Ezeekyeri 24
1 Awo olwatuuka mu mwaka ogw’omwenda, mu mwezi ogw’ekkumi ku lunaku olw’ekkumi, ekigambo kya Mukama Katonda ne kinzijira n’aŋŋamba nti,
Almost nine [after we had been taken to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the tenth month [of that year], Yahweh gave me this message:
2 “Omwana w’omuntu wandiika ennaku z’omwezi eza leero, kubanga kabaka w’e Babulooni azingizza Yerusaalemi olwa leero.
“You human, write down what day of the month this is. On this [the army of] King of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem.
3 Gerera ennyumba eyo enjeemu olugero obagambe nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, “‘Muteeke entamu ku kyoto, musseemu amazzi.
Tell those rebellious Israeli people [MTY] [in Babylon] a parable. Say this to them: This is what Yahweh the Lord says: ‘Pour water into the [cooking] pot and put the pot [the fire].
4 Mugiteekemu ebifi eby’ennyama, ebifi byonna ebirungi, ekisambi n’omukono. Mugijjuze n’amagumba agasinga obulungi,
Put into the pot some pieces of [from one of your best sheep]: Put in the leg and shoulder, [which are] the best pieces. [Then] fill [the rest of] the pot with the best bones.
5 mulonde endiga esinga obulungi okuva mu kisibo, Oteeke ebisiki wansi w’entamu, mweseze ebigirimu, era ofumbe n’amagumba agalimu.
Pile wood on the fire, and cook the bones and the meat in the boiling water.’
6 “‘Kubanga bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, “‘Zikusanze ggwe ekibuga ekiyiwa omusaayi, ggwe entamu eriko enziro, eteereddwamu ebintu ebitaaveemu. Gyamu ekifi kimu kimu awatali kukuba kalulu.
[Do that] because this is what Yahweh the Lord says: ‘Terrible things will happen [Jerusalem]; it is city that is full of murderers [MTY], [a city that is like] [MET] a scorched pot whose black residue inside cannot be removed. Take the pieces [of meat] out of the pot, but do not choose which pieces to take out.
7 “‘Omusaayi gwe yayiwa guli wakati mu ye, yaguyiwa ku lwazi olwereere; teyaguyiwa wansi enfuufu ereme okugubikka.
The blood of the people who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there; they were murdered on the bare rocks, not on the soil, where their blood could be covered.
8 Okusiikula ekiruyi kyange nsobole okuwalana eggwanga n’ateeka omusaayi gwe ku lwazi olwereere, guleme okubikkibwako.
But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered [MTY] to be smeared on the bare rock, where their blood could not be covered; I did that in order [I could see it and] then be angry and get revenge.’
9 “‘Mukama Katonda kyava ayogera nti, “‘Zikusanze ggwe ekibuga ekiyiwa omusaayi! Nange ndituuma enku nnyingi ddala.
Therefore, this is what [I], Yahweh the Lord say: ‘Terrible things will happen to that city that is full of murderers [MTY]! [It will be as though] I also will pile high [the wood in the fire].
10 Mutuume ebisiki, mukume omuliro, ennyama mugifumbe bulungi, mugiteekemu ebirungo, n’amagumba gasiriire.
[So], heap on the wood and light the fire! Cook the meat well, and mix some spices with it; cook it until the bones are charred.
11 Oluvannyuma muddire entamu enkalu mugiteeke ku masiga, okutuusa lw’eneeyokya ennyo n’ekikomo mwe yakolebwa ne kyengerera, ebitali birongoofu ebigirimu ne bisaanuuka, n’ebyateekebbwamu ne byokebwa.
Then set the empty pot on the [of the fire] until the pot becomes [very] hot and the copper glows, with the result that the impurities and the rust will be burned up.
12 Okufuba kwonna kubadde kwa bwereere, kubanga ebyateekebbwamu ebingi tebiggiddwamu, n’omuliro nagwo tegubyokeza.
[It is as though] I tried to get rid of that rust, but I was not able to do it, [not even] by putting that pot in a fire.
13 “‘Kaakano mu kwonoona kwo wagwenyuka, kubanga nagezaako okukutukuza ggwe, naye ne kitasoboka kukutukuza, era tolitukuzibwa okutuusa ekiruyi kyange bwe kirikkakkana.
The [in the pot represents] your immoral behavior. I tried to cleanse you from your wicked behavior, but you did not allow me to do that. So you will not be [from the guilt of your sin] [I have punished you and] I am no longer angry.
14 “‘Nze Mukama njogedde. Ekiseera kituuse okubaako ne kye nkola. Siritunula butunuzi so sirisaasira newaakubadde okwejjusa. Ndikusalira omusango nga nsinziira ku neeyisaayo ne ku bikolwa byo, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.’”
I, Yahweh, have said [that I will surely punish you]. [And it is time] for me to do that. I will not change my mind; I will not refrain from punishing you, and I will not pity you. I will judge you [and punish you] as you deserve to be punished for your sinful behavior. [That will surely happen because] I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it.”’”
15 Ekigambo kya Mukama ne kinzijira n’aŋŋamba nti,
[One day] Yahweh gave me this message:
16 “Omwana w’omuntu, luliba lumu oliba oli awo ne nkuggyako ekyo amaaso go kye gasinga okwegomba, naye tokungubaganga newaakubadde okukuba ebiwoobe newaakubadde okukaaba.
“You human, I am going to suddenly take from [your wife], whom you love very much. [when she dies], do [show that you are] sad or lament or cry.
17 Osindanga mu kasirise naye tokungubagiranga mufu. Ekiremba ku mutwe gwo okinywezanga, era osigalanga oyambadde engatto zo; tobikkanga wansi w’amaaso go wadde okulya emmere ey’omulumbe.”
Groan quietly; do not cry [openly] for her. [Keep] your turban wrapped around your head, [instead of being barefoot, keep] your sandals on your feet. Do not cover the lower part of your [to show that you are sad]. And do not eat the kind of food that people who are mourning usually eat.”
18 Awo ne njogera eri abantu ku makya, akawungeezi mukazi wange n’afa. Enkeera ne nkola nga bwe nalagiddwa.
[one morning] I talked to the [as usual], and that evening my wife [suddenly] died. The next morning I did what [Yahweh] had told me to do.
19 Abantu ne bambuuza nti, “Bino bitegeeza ki?”
Then the people asked me, “What do the things that you are doing signify to us?”
20 Awo ne mbaddamu nti, “Ekigambo kya Mukama kyanzijira n’aŋŋamba nti,
So I said to them, “[This is what] Yahweh told me:
21 Tegeeza ennyumba ya Isirayiri nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, nnaatera okwonoona awatukuvu wange, ekigo kye mwegulumiririzangamu, amaaso gammwe kye geegombanga, n’emitima gyammwe kye gyayagalanga, ne batabani bammwe ne bawala bammwe abaasigala emabega, balifa n’ekitala.
‘Tell the Israeli people [MTY] that I am about to destroy the temple, [the building] that you are very proud of, the building that you delight to look at. Your children whom you [in Jerusalem when you were forced to come to Babylon] will be killed [their enemies’] swords.
22 Mulikola nga nze bwe nkoze, so temulibikka wansi w’amaaso gammwe newaakubadde okulya emmere ey’omulumbe.
[When that happens], you will do like I have done: You will not cover the lower part of your faces, or eat the kinds of food that people who are mourning usually eat.
23 Mulisigala nga mwesibye ebiremba ku mitwe gyammwe, era mulisigala nga mwambadde engatto zammwe. Temulikuba biwoobe newaakubadde okukaaba naye muliyongobera olw’ebibi byammwe, buli muntu n’asindira munne ennaku.
[You will keep] your turbans wrapped around your heads and [keep] your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry, but your bodies will become very thin and slowly die because of your sins. And you will groan to each other.
24 Era Ezeekyeri aliba kabonero gye muli, era mulikola nga bw’akoze. Ebyo bwe biribaawo, mulimanya nga nze Mukama Katonda.’
Ezekiel will be a warning to you, and you must do what he has done. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh the [have the power to do what I say that I will do].’”
25 “Ate ggwe, omwana w’omuntu, olunaku lwe ndibaggyako ekigo kyabwe, n’essanyu lyabwe n’ekitiibwa kyabwe, n’okwegomba okw’amaaso gaabwe, n’okwegomba okw’emitima gyabwe, ne batabani baabwe ne bawala baabwe,
[Then Yahweh said to me], “You human, [soon] I will destroy their sacred temple, which they rejoice about and which they respect and delight to look at, and [I will get rid of] their sons and daughters also.
26 ku lunaku olwo aliba awonyeewo y’alikuwa amawulire.
On that day, someone will escape [from Jerusalem] and come and tell you what has happened [there].
27 Mu kiseera ekyo olyasamya akamwa ko, era olyogera eri kaawonawo so toliddayo kusirika. Era oliba kabonero gye bali, bamanye nga nze Mukama.”
When that happens, you will be able to speak again [MTY] [without constraint]. You two will talk together [DOU]. You will be a warning to the people; and they will know that I, Yahweh the Lord, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].”
