< Ezeekyeri 9 >

1 Awo ne mpulira ng’akoowoola n’eddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Muleete abakuumi b’ekibuga wano, buli omu n’ekyokulwanyisa kye mu mukono gwe.”
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 Ne ndaba abasajja mukaaga nga bava ku luuyi olw’omulyango ogw’engulu, ogutunudde mu bukiikakkono, buli omu ng’akutte ekissi mu ngalo ze; nga ku bo kuliko omusajja ayambadde linena nga yeesibye ebyokuwandiisa ku lukugunyu. Ne bayingira ne bayimirira ku mabbali g’ekyoto eky’ekikomo.
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 Awo ekitiibwa kya Katonda wa Isirayiri ne kiva mu bakerubi mwe kyali, ne kidda ku mulyango gwa yeekaalu. Mukama n’ayita omusajja ayambadde linena nga yeesibye ebyokuwandiisa ku lukugunyu,
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 n’amugamba nti, “Genda ng’oyitaayita mu kibuga kyonna ekya Yerusaalemi, oteeke akabonero ku byenyi by’abeesisiwadde era abanakuwadde olw’ebintu byonna eby’ekivve ebikolebwa wakati mu kyo.”
“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 Abalala n’abagamba, nga mpuliriza nti, “Mumugoberere muyiteeyite mu kibuga mutte, nga temusaasira newaakubadde okulaga ekisa.
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 Mutte abasajja abakadde, abavubuka n’abawala, n’abakyala n’abaana abato, naye temukwata ku aliko akabonero. Mutandikire mu watukuvu wange.” Ne batandikira ku bakadde abaali mu maaso ga yeekaalu.
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 N’abagamba nti, “Eyeekaalu mugyonoone, mujjuze empya abattibwa, mugende!” Ne bafuluma ne bagenda nga batta mu kibuga kyonna.
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 Bwe baali nga batta ne bandeka awo nzekka, ne nvuunama wansi, ne nkaaba nga njogera nti, “Ayi Mukama Katonda, olizikiriza ekitundu kya Isirayiri ekyasigalawo kyonna mu busungu bw’ofuse ku Yerusaalemi?”
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 N’anziramu nti, “Ekibi ky’ennyumba ya Isirayiri ne Yuda kisusse nnyo; ensi ejjudde okuyiwa omusaayi, n’ekibuga kijjudde obutali bwenkanya. Boogera nti, ‘Mukama yayabulira ensi, era Mukama takyalaba.’
“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 Kyendiva nema okubatunuulira n’eriiso erisaasira newaakubadde okubalaga ekisa, naye ndileeta akabi ku mitwe gyabwe olw’ebikolwa byabwe ebibi.”
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 Awo omusajja ayambadde linena nga yeesibye ebyokuwandiisa ku lukugunyu n’akomyawo obubaka eri Mukama nti, “Nkoze nga bwe walagidde.”
Then the man in linen with the writing kit returned and reported, “I've done what you told me to do.”

< Ezeekyeri 9 >