Ezekieli 24
1 Katika mwaka wa tisa, mwezi wa kumi, siku ya kumi, neno la Bwana likanijia kusema:
In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 “Mwanadamu, weka kumbukumbu ya tarehe hii, tarehe hii hasa, kwa kuwa mfalme wa Babeli ameuzingira mji wa Yerusalemu kwa jeshi siku hii ya leo.
“Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
3 Iambie nyumba hii ya kuasi fumbo, na uwaambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: “‘Teleka sufuria jikoni; iteleke na umimine maji ndani yake,
Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.
4 Weka vipande vya nyama ndani yake, vipande vyote vizuri, vya paja na vya bega. Ijaze hiyo sufuria kwa mifupa hii mizuri;
Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece— thigh and shoulder— fill it with choice bones.
5 chagua yule aliye bora wa kundi la kondoo. Panga kuni chini ya sufuria kwa ajili ya mifupa; chochea mpaka ichemke na uitokose hiyo mifupa ndani yake.
Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’
6 “‘Kwa kuwa hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: “‘Ole wa mji umwagao damu, ole wa sufuria ambayo sasa ina ukoko ndani yake, ambayo ukoko wake hautoki. Kipakue kipande baada ya kipande, bila kuvipigia kura.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.
7 “‘Kwa kuwa damu aliyoimwaga ipo katikati yake: huyo mwanamke aliimwaga juu ya mwamba ulio wazi; hakuimwaga kwenye ardhi, ambako vumbi lingeifunika.
For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
8 Kuchochea ghadhabu na kulipiza kisasi, nimemwaga damu yake juu ya mwamba ulio wazi, ili isifunikwe.
In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’
9 “‘Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: “‘Ole wa mji umwagao damu! Mimi nami nitalundikia kuni nyingi.
Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the kindling high.
10 Kwa hiyo lundika kuni na uwashe moto. Pika hiyo nyama vizuri, changanya viungo ndani yake, na uiache mifupa iungue kwenye moto.
Pile on the logs and kindle the fire; cook the meat well and mix in the spices; let the bones be burned.
11 Kisha teleka sufuria tupu kwenye makaa mpaka iwe na moto sana na shaba yake ingʼae, ili uchafu wake upate kuyeyuka na ukoko wake upate kuungua na kuondoka.
Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.
12 Imezuia juhudi zote, ukoko wake mwingi haujaondoka, hata ikiwa ni kwa moto.
It has frustrated every effort; its thick rust has not been removed, even by the fire.
13 “‘Sasa uchafu wako ni uasherati wako. Kwa sababu nilijaribu kukutakasa lakini haikuwezekana kutakaswa kutoka kwenye huo uchafu wako, hutatakasika tena mpaka ghadhabu yangu dhidi yako iwe imepungua.
Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
14 “‘Mimi Bwana nimesema, wakati umewadia wa mimi kutenda. Mimi sitazuia, mimi sitaona huruma wala sitapunguza hasira yangu, Utahukumiwa sawasawa na mwenendo na matendo yako, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’”
I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’
15 Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema:
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
16 “Mwanadamu, kwa pigo moja nakaribia kukuondolea kile kilicho furaha ya macho yako. Lakini usiomboleze au kulia wala kudondosha machozi yoyote.
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.
17 Lia kwa uchungu kimya kimya usimwombolezee mtu aliyekufa. Jifunge kilemba chako na uvae viatu vyako miguuni mwako, usifunike sehemu ya chini ya uso wako, wala usile vyakula vya kawaida vya wakati wa matanga.”
Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”
18 Hivyo nikanena na watu asubuhi na jioni mke wangu akafa. Asubuhi yake nilifanya kama nilivyoamriwa.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19 Ndipo watu wakaniuliza, “Je, jambo hili unalofanya linamaanisha nini kwetu?”
Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”
20 Kwa hiyo nikawaambia, “Neno la Bwana lilinijia kusema:
So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
21 ‘Sema na nyumba ya Israeli. Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Ninakaribia kupatia unajisi mahali pangu patakatifu, ngome ambayo ndani yake mnaona fahari, furaha ya macho yenu, kitu mnachokipenda. Wana wenu na binti zenu mliowaacha nyuma wataanguka kwa upanga.
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’
22 Nanyi mtafanya kama nilivyofanya. Hamtafunika sehemu ya chini ya nyuso zenu wala hamtakula vyakula vya kawaida vya waombolezaji.
Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.
23 Mtajifunga vilemba vichwani mwenu na kuvaa viatu vyenu miguuni mwenu. Hamtaomboleza au kulia, lakini mtadhoofika kwa sababu ya dhambi zenu na kulia kwa uchungu kila mtu na mwenzake.
Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.
24 Ezekieli atakuwa ishara kwenu, mtafanya kama yeye alivyofanya. Wakati jambo hili litakapotokea, mtajua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana Mwenyezi.’
‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’
25 “Nawe, mwanadamu, siku ile nitakapoondoa ngome yao iliyo furaha yao na utukufu wao, kitu cha kupendeza macho yao, kile kilicho shauku ya mioyo yao, wana wao na binti zao vilevile,
And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,
26 siku hiyo atakayetoroka atakuja kuwapasha habari.
on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news.
27 Katika siku ile kinywa chako kitamfumbukia yeye aliyenusurika, nawe utaongea wala hutanyamaza tena. Hivyo wewe utakuwa ishara kwao, nao watajua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana.”
On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
