< UHezekheli 9 >

1 Wasememeza ezindlebeni zami ngelizwi elikhulu esithi: Yenza ababonisi bomuzi basondele, ngitsho wonke umuntu elesikhali sakhe sokuchitha esandleni sakhe.
Then I heard Yahweh call out loudly, “[You men who are going to punish this city, ] bring here the guards of the city, each carrying a weapon.”
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.
Then I saw six men coming from the north gate of the temple area. Each one was carrying a weapon. With them was a man wearing a white linen robe. [carried] at his side a case containing things to write with. They [all] came into the temple 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/dazzling light) [that symbolized the presence] of the God of Israel rose up from above the four winged creatures and moved to the entrance of the temple. Then Yahweh called to the man wearing the linen robe,
4 INkosi yasisithi kuye: Dabula phakathi komuzi, phakathi kweJerusalema, ufake uphawu emabunzini abantu ababubulayo labakhalayo ngenxa yazo zonke izinengiso ezenziwa phakathi kwawo.
and said to him, “Go throughout Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who are very sad [DOU] because of the detestable things that are being done inside the city.”
5 Lakwabanye yathi endlebeni yami: Dabulani phakathi komuzi emva kwakhe, litshaye, ilihlo lenu lingahawukeli, njalo lingayekeli.
While I was listening, he said to the other six men, “Follow the man wearing the white robe, and kill people. Do not pity them or act mercifully toward them.
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 old men, young men and women, older women and children, but do not harm any of those who have that mark on their forehead. Start at my temple.” So they began by killing the elders who were [worshiping idols] in front of the temple.
7 Yasisithi kubo: Ngcolisani indlu, ligcwalise amaguma ngababuleweyo. Phumani. Basebephuma, babulala emzini.
Then Yahweh said to those men, “Pollute the temple by filling the [with the corpses of those whom] you kill! Start now!” So they went out and starting killing people 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 doing that, I was left alone. I prostrated myself on the ground and cried out, “Yahweh my Lord, are you going to get rid of all the people of Israel and Judah who are still alive, while you are severely punishing [MTY] [the people of] Jerusalem?”
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 sins of the people [MTY] of Israel and Judah are extremely great. People are murdered [MTY] everywhere [in this country], and this city is full of [people who act] unjustly. They say, ‘Yahweh has abandoned this country, and he does not [what we are doing].’
10 Lami-ke ilihlo lami kaliyikuhawukela, njalo kangiyikuyekela; ngizakwehlisela indlela yabo ekhanda labo.
[So] I will not pity them or act mercifully toward them. I will do to them the evil things that they have done to other people.”
11 Khangela-ke, lowomuntu owayegqoke ilembu elicolekileyo, owayelophondo lweyinki okhalweni lwakhe, wabuyisela ilizwi esithi: Ngenzile njengoba ungilayile.
Then the man wearing the linen robe returned, saying, “I have done what you commanded me to do.”

< UHezekheli 9 >