Ezekieli 31
1 Katika mwaka wa kumi na moja, mwezi wa tatu, siku ya kwanza, neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema:
Almost eleven years [after we had been taken to Babylonia], on the first day of the third month [of that year], Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
2 “Mwanadamu, mwambie Farao mfalme wa Misri na makundi yake ya wajeuri: “‘Je, ni nani awezaye kulinganishwa na wewe katika fahari.
“You human, say to the King of Egypt and all of his people, ‘[You think that] there is [RHQ, IRO] no country whose power is as great as the power of your country.
3 Angalia Ashuru, wakati fulani ilikuwa mwerezi huko Lebanoni, ukiwa na matawi mazuri ukitia msitu kivuli; ulikuwa mrefu sana, kilele chake kilipita majani ya miti yote.
You think that your country is as great as Assyria was: Assyria was previously like [MET] a tall cedar tree in Lebanon; [it was as though] it had big beautiful branches that provided shade for [other trees in] the forest. It was very tall; its top was above the leaves of the other trees.
4 Maji mengi yaliustawisha, chemchemi zenye maji mengi ziliufanya urefuke; vijito vyake vilitiririka pale ulipoota pande zote na kupeleka mifereji yake kwenye miti yote ya shambani.
Water came from deep springs, and as a result that cedar tree grew tall and very green. Then water flowed around the base of the tree into channels that took water to other nearby trees.
5 Hivyo ukarefuka kupita miti yote ya shambani; vitawi vyake viliongezeka na matawi yake yakawa marefu, yakitanda kwa sababu ya wingi wa maji.
That huge tree grew very tall, higher than all the other trees around it. Its branches grew very thick and long [DOU] because of the abundant water [at the base of the tree].
6 Ndege wote wa angani wakaweka viota kwenye vitawi vyake, wanyama wote wa shambani wakazaana chini ya matawi yake, mataifa makubwa yote yaliishi chini ya kivuli chake.
Birds built their nests in the branches, and wild animals gave birth to their babies under those branches. [And it was as though people of] all the great nations lived in the shade of that tree.
7 Ulikuwa na fahari katika uzuri, ukiwa na matawi yaliyotanda, kwa kuwa mizizi yake ilikwenda chini mpaka kwenye maji mengi.
It was majestic and beautiful; its branches spread out widely because the roots of the tree grew down into the ground where there was a plentiful supply of water.
8 Mierezi katika bustani ya Mungu haikuweza kushindana nao, wala misunobari haikuweza kulingana na vitawi vyake, wala miaramoni haikulinganishwa na matawi yake, wala hakukuwa na mti katika bustani ya Mungu wa kulinganisha na uzuri wake.
The cedar trees in my garden [in Eden] were not as great as that tree, and the branches of the pine/cypress trees were not as long and thick as the branches of that cedar tree. And the branches of the plane trees were not as long and thick, either. No tree in my garden was as beautiful as that cedar tree.
9 Niliufanya kuwa mzuri ukiwa na matawi mengi, ulionewa wivu na miti yote ya Edeni katika bustani ya Mungu.
Because I caused that tree to become very beautiful with its magnificent green branches, [all the leaders of other countries represented by] [MET] those other trees in Eden envied [the country represented by] that tree.’
10 “‘Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Kwa sababu ulikuwa mrefu sana, kilele chake kikiwa juu ya majani manene ya miti na kwa sababu ulikuwa na kiburi cha urefu wake,
Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: ‘That tree, which [represents Assyria], grew very tall, and its top was higher than the other trees, and it became very proud because of being very tall.
11 niliutia mikononi mwa mtawala wa mataifa, ili yeye aushughulikie sawasawa na uovu wake. Nikaukatilia mbali,
Therefore, I enabled another mighty nation to conquer it and to destroy it as it deserved to be destroyed. I have already discarded it.
12 nayo mataifa mageni yaliyo makatili sana yaliukata huo mti na kuuacha. Matawi yake yalianguka juu ya milima na kwenye mabonde yote, vitawi vyake vikavunjika na kusambaa katika makorongo yote ya nchi. Mataifa yote ya duniani yakaondoka kutoka kwenye kivuli chake na kuuacha.
A foreign army, one that has caused people of other nations to be terrified, cut it down and left it. Its branches fell on the mountains and in the valleys. Some of its branches lay broken in all the ravines in the land. All the people of other nations came out from being under its shade and left it.
13 Ndege wote wa angani wakakaa kwenye ule mti ulioanguka na wanyama pori wote wakakaa katikati ya vitawi vyake.
Birds (settled/went to live) on the fallen tree, and wild animals lived among its branches.
14 Kamwe hakutakuwa na miti mingine kando ya hayo maji itakayorefuka zaidi ya huo, vilele vyake vikiwa juu ya majani yote ya miti. Hakuna miti mingine, hata kama imekunywa maji vizuri namna gani, itakayofikia urefu huo. Yote mwisho wake ni kifo, na kuingia ardhini, kama vile ilivyo kwa wanadamu, pamoja na wale waendao shimoni.
The result of what I have done is that no other trees, even if they have plenty of water, will ever grow very high and become proud, and lift their tops above the branches of other trees. I do not want any other tree to grow high like that cedar tree did; trees will all certainly die and decay in the ground, like people die and go down to their graves.’
15 “‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Katika siku ile mwerezi uliposhushwa chini kaburini nilizifunika chemchemi zenye maji mengi kwa maombolezo: Nilivizuia vijito vyake na wingi wa maji yake nikauzuia. Kwa sababu yake niliivika Lebanoni huzuni, nayo miti yote ya shambani ikanyauka. (Sheol h7585)
This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: ‘When that great tree was cut down, [it was as though] the springs that watered it mourned for it, because I caused the plentiful water [from the springs] to dry up. I caused [the mountains in] Lebanon to become black, and all the trees there to wither. (Sheol h7585)
16 Niliyafanya mataifa yatetemeke kwa kishindo cha kuanguka kwake wakati nilipoushusha chini kaburini pamoja na wale washukao shimoni. Ndipo miti yote ya Edeni, miti iliyo bora kuliko yote na iliyo mizuri sana ya Lebanoni, miti yote ile iliyokunywa maji vizuri, ilifarijika hapa duniani. (Sheol h7585)
I caused the people of other nations to tremble when they heard that tree fall to the ground. [They realized] that it would decay, like all people who die and are buried decay. And all the [leaders of other countries represented by] other beautiful trees in my garden in Eden and in Lebanon, were like beautiful trees [that were very proud]. They were ones which had roots that grew down deep into the [ground where there was plenty of] water. They were comforted when [the king represented by] [MET] that cedar tree was there with them in the place where the dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
17 Wale walioishi katika kivuli chake, wale walioungana naye miongoni mwa mataifa, nao pia walikuwa wamezikwa pamoja naye, wakiungana na wale waliouawa kwa upanga. (Sheol h7585)
The [leaders of other countries represented by] [MET] trees that grew in the shade of the huge tree, [the allies of] the great nation [that the cedar tree represents], had also joined those who had been killed by the sword and gone down to where the dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
18 “‘Ni miti ipi ya Edeni inayoweza kulinganishwa nawe kwa fahari na utukufu? Hata hivyo, wewe pia, utashushwa chini pamoja na miti ya Edeni mpaka kuzimu, utalala miongoni mwa wasiotahiriwa, pamoja na wale waliouawa kwa upanga. “‘Huyu ni Farao pamoja na makundi yake yote ya wajeuri, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’” (questioned)
[This parable is about you] people of Egypt. [You think that] [RHQ, IRO] there is no other nation that is as great and glorious as yours is. But your nation will also be destroyed, [as Assyria was], along with those other nations. Your people will be there among the other people who are not fit to worship me, people who have been killed by their enemies’ swords. That is what will happen to the king of Egypt and all his people. [That will surely happen because] I, Yahweh, [have predicted it].’”
