< Ezekieli 19 >
1 “Tena wewe, chukua maombolezo juu ya viongozi wa Israeli
“As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel
2 na sema, 'Mama yako alikuwa nani? Simba jike mmoja, aliishi na mtoto wa simba dume; katikati ya simba wadogo, aliwalisha watoto wake.
and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.
3 Alimlea mmoja wa wale watoto kurarua wanyama wengine, na kisha alijifunza jinsi ya kuwinda watu na kuwala.
She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.
4 Kisha mataifa wakasikia kuhusu yeye. Akakamatwa kwenye mtego wao, na wakamleta kwa kulabu hata nchi ya Misri.
When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.
5 Kisha alipoona kwamba ingawa alikuwa akimsubiri arudi, matumaini yake sasa yalienda, hivyo alimchukua mtoto wake wengine katika watoto wake na kumlea hata kuwa mwana simba.
When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6 Huyu mwana simba alitembea huku na huku katikati ya simba. Akawa mwana simba na kujifunza kuwinda mawindo; akala watu.
He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.
7 Akawakamata wajane na kuiharibu miji. Nchi na viijazavyo vilitelekezwa kwa sababu ya sauti ya kunguruma kwake.
He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.
8 Lakini mataifa yakaja juu yake kutoka mikoa yote; wakatengeneza nyavu juu yake. Akakamatwa kwenye mtego wao.
Then the nations set out against him from the provinces on every side. They spread their net over him; he was trapped in their pit.
9 Kwa kulabu wakamuweka kwenye tundu na kisha wakamleta hata kwa mfalme wa Babeli. Wakamleta hata kwenye ngome imara ili kwamba sauti yake isiweze kusikika juu ya milima ya Israeli.
With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.
10 Mama yako alikuwa kama mzabibu uliopandwa kwenye damu yako karibu na maji. ulizaa matunda na kujaa matawi kwa sababu ya wingi wa maji.
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.
11 Ulikuwa na matawi imara yaliyokuwa yakitumika kwa ajili ya fimbo ya utawala, na kipimo chake kiliinuka juu ya matawi, na kina wake ulionekana kwa ukubwa wa majani yake.
It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage.
12 Lakini mzabibu uling'olewa kwa ghadhabu na kutupwa chini hata aridhini, na upepo wa mashariki uliuvunja na kunyauka na moto ukavila.
But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them.
13 Hivyo sasa, umepandwa jangwani, kwenye nchi ya ukame na kavu.
Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Kwa kuwa moto ulitoka kwenye matawi makubwa na kuyala matunda yake. Hakuna tawi imara juu yake, hakuna fimbo ya kifalme kutawala.' Haya ni maombolezo na yataimbwa kama maombolezo.”
Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”