< Ezekieli 9 >
1 Kisha nikamsikia akiita kwa sauti kubwa akisema, “Walete wasimamizi wa mji hapa, kila mmoja akiwa na silaha mkononi mwake.”
Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
2 Nami nikaona watu sita wakija toka upande wa lango la juu, linalotazama kaskazini kila mmoja na silaha za kuangamiza mkononi mwake. Pamoja nao alikuwepo mtu aliyekuwa amevaa mavazi ya kitani safi, naye alikuwa na vifaa vya mwandishi akiwa amevishikilia upande mmoja. Wakaingia ndani ya Hekalu wakasimama pembeni mwa madhabahu ya shaba.
Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Basi utukufu wa Mungu wa Israeli ukaondoka hapo juu ya makerubi, ulikokuwa umekaa, ukaenda kwenye kizingiti cha Hekalu. Ndipo Bwana akamwita yule mtu aliyevaa kitani safi aliyekuwa na vifaa vya mwandishi akiwa amevishikilia upande wake mmoja,
The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.
4 akamwambia, “Pita katika mji wote wa Yerusalemu ukaweke alama juu ya vipaji vya nyuso za wale watu wanaohuzunika na kuomboleza kwa sababu ya machukizo yote yanayotendeka katika mji huu.”
Yahweh said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
5 Nikiwa ninasikia, akawaambia wale wengine, “Mfuateni anapopita katika mji wote mkiua, pasipo huruma wala masikitiko.
To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.
6 Waueni wazee, vijana wa kiume na wa kike, wanawake na watoto, lakini msimguse mtu yeyote mwenye alama. Anzieni katika mahali pangu patakatifu.” Kwa hiyo wakaanza na wale wazee waliokuwa mbele ya Hekalu.
Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” Then they began at the old men who were before the house.
7 Ndipo akawaambia, “Linajisini Hekalu na mkazijaze kumbi zake maiti za wale waliouawa. Nendeni!” Kwa hiyo wakaenda wakaanza kuua watu mjini kote.
He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” They went out, and struck in the city.
8 Wakati walikuwa wakiwaua watu, nami nilikuwa nimeachwa peke yangu, nikaanguka kifudifudi, nikapiga kelele nikisema, “Ee Bwana Mwenyezi! Je, utaangamiza mabaki yote ya Israeli, katika kumwagwa huku kwa ghadhabu yako juu ya Yerusalemu?”
While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9 Bwana akanijibu, “Dhambi ya nyumba ya Israeli na Yuda imekuwa kubwa mno kupita kiasi, nchi imejaa umwagaji damu na mjini kumejaa udhalimu. Kwani wamesema, ‘Bwana ameiacha nchi, Bwana hauoni.’
Then he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh doesn’t see.’
10 Kwa hiyo sitawahurumia wala kuwaachilia lakini nitaleta juu ya vichwa vyao, yale waliyoyatenda.”
As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.”
11 Ndipo mtu yule aliyekuwa amevaa nguo ya kitani safi na vifaa vya mwandishi akiwa amevishikilia upande wake mmoja, akarudi na kutoa taarifa akisema, “Nimefanya kama ulivyoniagiza.”
Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, “I have done as you have commanded me.”