Ezekieli 19
1 “Wewe fanya maombolezo kuhusu wakuu wa Israeli
Moreover do thou take up a lamentation for the prince of Israel,
2 na useme: “‘Tazama jinsi gani mama yako alivyokuwa simba jike miongoni mwa simba! Alilala katikati ya wana simba na kulisha watoto wake.
and say, Why is thy mother become a whelp in the midst of lions? in the midst of lions she has multiplied her whelps.
3 Alimlea mmoja wa watoto wake, naye akawa simba mwenye nguvu. Akajifunza kurarua mawindo naye akala watu.
And one of her whelps sprang forth; he became a lion, and learned to take prey, he devoured men.
4 Mataifa wakasikia habari zake, naye akanaswa katika shimo lao. Wakamwongoza kwa ndoana mpaka nchi ya Misri.
And the nations heard a report of him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him into the land of Egypt in chains.
5 “‘Mama yake alipongoja na kuona tumaini lake halitimiziki, nayo matarajio yake yametoweka, akamchukua mwanawe mwingine na kumfanya simba mwenye nguvu.
And she saw that he was driven away from her, [and] her hope [of him] perished, and she took another of her whelps; she made him a lion.
6 Alizungukazunguka miongoni mwa simba, kwa kuwa sasa alikuwa simba mwenye nguvu. Akajifunza kurarua mawindo naye akala watu.
And he went up and down in the midst of lions, he became a lion, and learned to take prey, he devoured men.
7 Akabomoa ngome zao na kuiharibu miji yao. Nchi na wote waliokuwa ndani yake wakatiwa hofu kwa kunguruma kwake.
And he prowled in his boldness and laid waste their cities, and made the land desolate, and the fullness of it, by the voice of his roaring.
8 Kisha mataifa wakaja dhidi yake kutoka sehemu zilizomzunguka. Wakatanda nyavu zao kwa ajili yake, naye akanaswa katika shimo lao.
Then the nations set upon him from the countries round about, and they spread their nets upon him: he was taken in their pit.
9 Kwa kutumia ndoana wakamvutia kwenye tundu na kumleta mpaka kwa mfalme wa Babeli. Wakamtia gerezani, hivyo kunguruma kwake hakukusikika tena katika milima ya Israeli.
And they put him in chains and in a cage, [and] he came to the king of Babylon; and he cast him into prison, that his voice should not be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10 “‘Mama yako alikuwa kama mzabibu katika shamba lako la mizabibu uliopandwa kando ya maji, ukiwa unazaa sana na wenye matawi mengi kwa sababu ya wingi wa maji.
Thy mother was as a vine and as a blossom on a pomegranate tree, planted by water: her fruit and her shoot abounded by reason of much water.
11 Matawi yake yalikuwa na nguvu, yaliyofaa kuwa fimbo ya enzi ya mtawala. Ulikuwa mrefu kupita miti mingine katikati ya matawi manene; ulionekana kwa urahisi kwa ajili ya urefu wake na wingi wa matawi yake.
And she became a rod for a tribe of princes, and was elevated in her bulk in the midst of [other] trees, and she saw her bulk in the multitude of her branches.
12 Lakini ulingʼolewa kwa hasira kali na kutupwa chini. Upepo wa mashariki uliufanya usinyae, matunda yake yakapukutika, matawi yake yenye nguvu yakanyauka na moto ukayateketeza.
But she was broken down in wrath, she was cast upon the ground, and the east wind dried up her choice [branches]: vengeance came upon them, and the rod of her strength was withered; fire consumed it.
13 Sasa umepandwa jangwani katika nchi kame na ya kiu.
And now they have planted her in the wilderness, in a dry land.
14 Moto ulienea kuanzia katika mmojawapo ya matawi yake makubwa na kuteketeza matunda yake. Hakuna tawi lenye nguvu lililobaki juu yake lifaalo kuwa fimbo ya enzi ya mtawala.’ Hili ndilo ombolezo, na litumike kama ombolezo.”
And fire is gone out of a rod of her choice [boughs], and has devoured her; and there was no rod of strength in her. Her race is become a parable of lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation.
