Okukungubaga 4
1 Zaabu ng’ettalazze! Zaabu ennungi ng’efuuse! Amayinja ag’omuwendo gasaasaanye buli luguudo we lutandikira.
Oh how is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! how are the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the corners of every street.
2 Abaana ba Sayuuni ab’omuwendo abaali beenkana nga zaabu ennungi, kaakano bali ng’ensuwa ez’ebbumba, omulimu gw’emikono gy’omubumbi.
The precious sons of Zion, valued equal to pure gold, how are they now esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Ebibe biyonsa abaana baabyo, naye abantu bange bafuuse ng’abatalina kisa, bafaanana nga bammaaya mu ddungu.
Even wild beasts offer the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 Olw’ennyonta omwana ayonka gy’alina, olulimi lwe lukwatira ku kibuno ky’akamwa ke; abaana basaba emmere naye tewali n’omu agibawa.
The tongue of the suckling cleaveth to its palate by reason of thirst: babes ask for bread, there is not one to break it for them.
5 Abaalyanga ebiwoomerera basabiriza ku nguudo; n’abo abaakuzibwa ng’abambala engoye ezinekaaneka bali ku ntuumu ez’ebisasiro.
Those that used to eat dainty food are desolate in the streets: they that were reared up on scarlet now embrace dunghills.
6 Ekibonerezo ky’abantu bange kisinga ekya Sodomu, ekyawambibwa mu kaseera akatono, nga tewali n’omu azze kukibeera.
For greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as it were in a moment, and no human hands were laid on her.
7 Abalangira baabwe baatukula nnyo okusinga omuzira, nga beeru okusinga amata; n’emibiri gyabwe nga mimyufu okusinga amayinja amatwakaavu, era banyirivu nga safiro.
Her crowned princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more brilliant in body than pearls, more than the sapphire, their countenance:
8 Naye kaakano badduggala okusinga enziro, era tebakyasobola kutegeerekeka mu nguudo. Olususu lwabwe lukalidde ku magumba gaabwe; lukaze ng’ekiti ekikalu.
Darker than black is now their visage; they are not to be recognized in the streets: their skin is shriveled fast upon their bones; it is dry, it is become like wood.
9 Abafa ekitala bafa bulungi okusinga abafa enjala, kubanga abafa enjala bayongobera ne baggwaawo olw’obutaba na mmere mu nnimiro.
Happier are those slain by the sword than those slain by hunger; for those poured forth their blood, being pierced through, —[these perished] without the fruits of the field.
10 Abakazi ab’ekisa abaagala abaana bafumbye abaana baabwe; abaana abaafuuka emmere abantu bange bwe baazikirizibwa.
The hands of merciful women cooked their own children: they became food unto them in the downfall of the daughter of my people.
11 Mukama akituukirizza mu busungu bwe obungi, era abayiyeeko obusungu bwe obungi. Yakoleeza omuliro mu Sayuuni ogwayokya emisingi gyakyo.
The Lord hath let loose all his fury: he hath poured out the fierceness of his anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured her foundations.
12 Bakabaka b’ensi n’abantu ab’ensi endala tebakkiriza, nti abalabe n’ababakyawa baliyingira mu wankaaki wa Yerusaalemi.
The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not believe that an adversary or an enemy could ever enter within the gates of Jerusalem.
13 Ebyo byabatuukako olw’ebibi bya bannabbi be, n’olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa bakabona be, abaayiwa omusaayi gw’abatuukirivu abaababeerangamu.
[But it hath happened] because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, that had shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.
14 Badoobera mu nguudo nga bamuzibe; bajjudde omusaayi so tewali ayaŋŋanga okukwata ku byambalo byabwe.
They wandered about blindly in the streets, they became defiled with blood; so that men were not able to touch their garments.
15 Abantu baabagobaganya nga boogera nti, “Muveewo, mmwe abatali balongoofu! Muviireewo ddala, so temutukwatako!” Bwe baafuuka emmombooze, amawanga gabagobaganya nga boogera nti, “Tebakyasaana kubeera wano.”
Depart, ye unclean, they called out unto them: depart, depart, touch not. So they flee away and also wander about: men say among the nations, They shall no more sojourn there.
16 Mukama yennyini abasaasaanyizza, takyabafaako. Bakabona tebakyassibwamu kitiibwa, newaakubadde abakadde okuweebwa ebifo eby’oku mwanjo.
The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more look at them: the faces of the priests they respected not, and the elders they spared not.
17 Amaaso gaffe gakooye olw’okulindirira okubeerwa okutajja; nga tulindirira eggwanga eriyinza okutulokola.
Even now our eyes anxiously wait for our valueless help: in our waiting have we waited for a nation that cannot help.
18 Baatucocca ne batulemesa okutambulira mu nguudo zaffe; enkomerero yaffe n’eba kumpi, n’ennaku zaffe ne ziggwaayo.
They hunt our steps, that we cannot walk in our streets: our end is near, our days are full: for our end is come.
19 Abaatuyiganyanga baatusinga embiro okusinga n’empungu ez’omu bbanga. Baatugobera mu nsozi ne batuteegera mu ddungu.
Swifter were our pursuers than the eagles of heaven: upon the mountains did they hotly follow us: in the wilderness did they lie in wait for us.
20 Oyo Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta yagwa mu mitego gyabwe. Twalowooza nga tulikwekebwa mu kisiikirize kye ne tubeeranga mu mawanga.
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was caught in their pits, he, of whom we said, Under his shadow shall we live among the nations.
21 Sanyuka ojaguze, ggwe Omuwala wa Edomu, abeera mu nsi ya Uzi; naye lumu olinywa ku kikompe n’otamiira ne weeyambula.
Be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of 'Uz: also unto thee shall the cup pass; thou wilt be drunken, and make thyself naked.
22 Ggwe Muwala wa Sayuuni, ekibonerezo kyo kikomye awo, talikwongerayo mu busibe. Naye ggwe omuwala wa Edomu, Mukama alikubonereza, n’ayanika ekibi kyo mu lujjudde.
Brought to an end is thy iniquity, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry thee away into exile: He visiteth thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He layeth open thy sins.
