< Ezekieli 15 >
1 Kisha neno la Yahwe likanijia, liksema,
And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:
2 “Mwanadamu, je ni jisni gani mzabibu ulivo bora kuliko mti na matawi yaliyomo kwenye miti katika msitu?
'Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree? The vine-branch that hath been, Among trees of the forest?
3 Je watu huwa wanachukua mbao kutoka kwenye mzabbibu kufanyia chochote? au huwa wanatengenezea vitu kutokana na huo kuning'iniza chochote juu ya huo?
Is wood taken from it to use for work? Do they take of it a pin to hang any vessel on it?
4 Tazama! Kama umetupwa kwenye moto kama kuni, na kama moto umezichoma ncha zake zote na katikati pia, je unafaa kwa chochote?
Lo, to the fire it hath been given for fuel, Its two ends hath the fire eaten, And its midst hath been scorched! Is it profitable for work?
5 Tazama! Wakati ulipokuwa umekamilika, haukuweza kufanya chochote; kisha hakika, wakati moto ulipouchoma, lakini bado haukuweza kutengeneza kitu chochote kwa ajili ya matumizi yoyote.
Lo, in its being perfect it is not used for work, How much less, when fire hath eaten of it, And it is scorched, Hath it been used yet for work?
6 Kwa hiyo Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: haufanani na miti katika misitu, niliyoitoa mzabibu kama kuni kwa moto; nitatenda vivyo hivyo mbele ya wakaao Yerusalemu.
Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: As the vine-tree among trees of the forest, That I have given to the fire for fuel, So I have given the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 Kwa kuwa nitauweka uso wangu juu yao. Ingawa watatoka kutoka kwenye moto, bado moto utawala; hivyo mtajua kwamba mimi ni Yahwe, wakati nitakapoona uso wangu juu yenu.
And I have set My face against them, From the fire they have gone forth, And the fire doth consume them, And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My setting My face against them.
8 Kisha nitaifanya nchi kuwa ukiwa kwa sababu wamefanya dhambi-hivi ndivyo Bwana Yahwe asemavyo.”
And I have made the land a desolation, Because they have committed a trespass, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!'