Ezekieli 15
1 Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema:
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2 “Mwanadamu, je, ni vipi mti wa mzabibu unaweza kuwa bora zaidi kuliko tawi la mti mwingine wowote ndani ya msitu?
“Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3 Je, mti wake kamwe huchukuliwa na kutengeneza chochote cha manufaa? Je, watu hutengeneza vigingi vya kuningʼinizia vitu kutokana na huo mti wake?
Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?
4 Nao baada ya kutiwa motoni kama nishati na moto ukateketeza ncha zote mbili na kuunguza sehemu ya kati, je, unafaa kwa lolote?
Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burned. Is it profitable for any work?
5 Kama haukufaa kitu chochote ulipokuwa mzima, je, si zaidi sana sasa ambapo hauwezekani kufanyishwa chochote cha kufaa baada ya moto kuuchoma na kuuunguza?
Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it has been burned, will it yet be suitable for any work?”
6 “Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Kama nilivyoutoa mti wa mzabibu miongoni mwa miti ya msituni kuwa nishati kwa ajili ya moto, hivyo ndivyo nitakavyowatendea watu waishio Yerusalemu.
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “As the vine wood among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 Nitaukaza uso wangu dhidi yao. Ingawa watakuwa wameokoka kwenye moto, bado moto utawateketeza. Nami nitakapoukaza uso wangu dhidi yao, ninyi mtajua kwamba Mimi ndimi Bwana.
I will set my face against them. They will go out from the fire, but the fire will still devour them. Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them.
8 Nitaifanya nchi kuwa ukiwa kwa sababu wamekuwa si waaminifu, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.”
I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,” says the Lord Yahweh.
