Ezekieli 19
1 “Tena wewe, chukua maombolezo juu ya viongozi wa Israeli
“Moreover, take up a lamentation 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. She couched amongst lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished 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. He became a young lion. He learnt to catch the prey. He devoured men.
4 Kisha mataifa wakasikia kuhusu yeye. Akakamatwa kwenye mtego wao, na wakamleta kwa kulabu hata nchi ya Misri.
The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks 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.
“‘Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then 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 went up and down amongst the lions. He became a young lion. He learnt to catch the prey. He devoured men.
7 Akawakamata wajane na kuiharibu miji. Nchi na viijazavyo vilitelekezwa kwa sababu ya sauti ya kunguruma kwake.
He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.
8 Lakini mataifa yakaja juu yake kutoka mikoa yote; wakatengeneza nyavu juu yake. Akakamatwa kwenye mtego wao.
Then the nations attacked him on every side from the provinces. They spread their net over him. He was taken 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.
They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into strongholds, so that his voice should no more be heard 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 blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many 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 for the sceptres of those who ruled. Their stature was exalted amongst the thick boughs. They were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.
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 plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and 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 of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong branch to be a sceptre to rule.’ This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”
