Ezekieli 24
1 Katika mwaka wa tisa, mwezi wa kumi, siku ya kumi, neno la Bwana likanijia kusema:
Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Yahweh’s word 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 the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.
3 Iambie nyumba hii ya kuasi fumbo, na uwaambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: “‘Teleka sufuria jikoni; iteleke na umimine maji ndani yake,
Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says, “Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on, and also pour water into it.
4 Weka vipande vya nyama ndani yake, vipande vyote vizuri, vya paja na vya bega. Ijaze hiyo sufuria kwa mifupa hii mizuri;
Gather its pieces into it, even every good piece: the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the 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 choice of the flock, and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron. Make it boil well. Yes, let its bones be boiled within 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 the Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the bloody city, to the cauldron whose rust is in it, and whose rust hasn’t gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece without casting lots for it.
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 in the middle of her. She set it on the bare rock. She didn’t 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.
That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered.”
9 “‘Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: “‘Ole wa mji umwagao damu! Mimi nami nitalundikia kuni nyingi.
“‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.
10 Kwa hiyo lundika kuni na uwashe moto. Pika hiyo nyama vizuri, changanya viungo ndani yake, na uiache mifupa iungue kwenye moto.
Heap on the wood. Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well. Make the broth thick, and 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.
Then set it empty on its coals, that it may be hot, and its bronze may burn, and that its filthiness may be molten in it, that its rust may be consumed.
12 Imezuia juhudi zote, ukoko wake mwingi haujaondoka, hata ikiwa ni kwa moto.
She is weary with toil; yet her great rust, rust by fire, doesn’t leave her.
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.
“‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you weren’t cleansed, you won’t be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.
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, Yahweh, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. According to your ways and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
15 Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema:
Also Yahweh’s word 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 will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.
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.”
Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”
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 at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.
19 Ndipo watu wakaniuliza, “Je, jambo hili unalofanya linamaanisha nini kwetu?”
The people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things mean to us, that you act like this?”
20 Kwa hiyo nikawaambia, “Neno la Bwana lilinijia kusema:
Then I said to them, “Yahweh’s word 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.
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have 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.
You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.
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 be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.
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 to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.’”’”
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,
“You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart—their sons and their daughters—
26 siku hiyo atakayetoroka atakuja kuwapasha habari.
that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?
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.”
In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
