UHezekheli 9

1 Wasememeza ezindlebeni zami ngelizwi elikhulu esithi: Yenza ababonisi bomuzi basondele, ngitsho wonke umuntu elesikhali sakhe sokuchitha esandleni sakhe.

Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with a weapon of destruction in hand.”

2 Khangela-ke, amadoda ayisithupha eza evela ngendlela yesango eliphezulu elikhangele ngasenyakatho; njalo wonke umuntu elesikhali sakhe sokuphahlaza esandleni sakhe; njalo umuntu oyedwa phakathi kwawo wayegqoke ilembu elicolekileyo, elophondo lweyinki lombhali ngasokhalweni lwakhe; asengena, ema duze kwelathi lethusi.

And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Lenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli yenyuka isuka ngaphezu kwekherubhi eyayiphezu kwalo, yaya embundwini wendlu; wasememeza umuntu owayegqoke ilembu elicolekileyo owayelophondo lweyinki lombhali okhalweni lwakhe.

Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.

4 INkosi yasisithi kuye: Dabula phakathi komuzi, phakathi kweJerusalema, ufake uphawu emabunzini abantu ababubulayo labakhalayo ngenxa yazo zonke izinengiso ezenziwa phakathi kwawo.

“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”

5 Lakwabanye yathi endlebeni yami: Dabulani phakathi komuzi emva kwakhe, litshaye, ilihlo lenu lingahawukeli, njalo lingayekeli.

And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!

6 Bulalani ngokuchitha abadala, abatsha, lezintombi, labantwana abancinyane, labesifazana; kodwa lingasondeli lakuwuphi umuntu okulophawu phezu kwakhe, liqalise endaweni yami engcwele. Basebeqalisa emadodeni amadala ayephambi kwendlu.

Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

7 Yasisithi kubo: Ngcolisani indlu, ligcwalise amaguma ngababuleweyo. Phumani. Basebephuma, babulala emzini.

Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.

8 Kwasekusithi besababulala, mina-ke ngasala, ngathi mbo ngobuso bami, ngakhala ngathi: Hawu, Nkosi Jehova! Uzachitha yini yonke insali yakoIsrayeli ekuthululeni kwakho intukuthelo yakho phezu kweJerusalema?

While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”

9 Khona yathi kimi: Ububi bendlu yakoIsrayeli loJuda bukhulu kakhulukazi, lelizwe ligcwele amacala egazi, lomuzi ugcwele ukuphambuka, ngoba bathi: INkosi ilidelile ilizwe, njalo iNkosi kayiboni.

He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’

10 Lami-ke ilihlo lami kaliyikuhawukela, njalo kangiyikuyekela; ngizakwehlisela indlela yabo ekhanda labo.

But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”

11 Khangela-ke, lowomuntu owayegqoke ilembu elicolekileyo, owayelophondo lweyinki okhalweni lwakhe, wabuyisela ilizwi esithi: Ngenzile njengoba ungilayile.

Then the man clothed in linen with the writing kit at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded.”