Ezekieli 9
1 Kisha akalia kwa sauti kubwa nikasikia kwenye masikio yangu, huku akisema, “Waache walinzi waje kwenye mji, kila mmoja na silaha yake ya uharibifu kwenye mkono wake.”
Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with a weapon of destruction in hand.”
2 Kisha tazama! watu wanne watakuja kutokea njia ya lango la juu linaloelekea kaskazini, kila mmoja na silaha yake ya kuchinjia kwenye mkono wake. Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja miongoni mwao alikuwa amevaa nguo ya kitani pamoja na kifaa cha uandishi ubavuni mwake. Hivyo waliingia na kusimama karibu na madhabahu ya shaba.
And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Kisha utukufu wa Mungu wa Israeli ukapanda juu kutoka kwa kerubi ambapo ilikuwa kwenye kisingiti cha nyumba. Akamwita yule mtu aliyekuwa amevaa nguo ya kitani na kifaa cha uandishi ubavuni mwake.
Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.
4 Yahwe akamwambia, “Pita kati ya mji-kati ya Yerusalemu-na weka alama katika vipaji vya uso vya wale waliolemewa na kuona kuhusu machukizo yote yanafanyika kati ya mji.”
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
5 Kisha akaongea na wengine kupitia kusikia kwangu, “Pita kwenye mji baada ya yeye na kuua. Msiache macho yenu yawe na huruma, na msiogope kuharibu
And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!
6 iwe mzee, kijana, msichana, mtoto mdogo au wanawake. Waueni watu wote! Lakini msimkaribie mtu yeyote ambaye mwenye alama kwenye kichwa chake. Anzeni katika patakatifu pangu!” Hivyo wakaanza na wazee waliokuwa mbele ya nyumba.
Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
7 Akawaambia, “Najisi nyumba, na kujaza zio zake kwa waliokufa. Endeleeni!” Hivyo wakaenda na kuushambulia mji.
Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
8 Walipokuwa wakiushambulia, nikajikuta mwenyewe na nikaangukia kwenye uso wangu na kulia kwa sauti na kusema, “Ee, Bwana Yahwe, utayaharibu mabaki yote ya Israeli wakati wa kumwaga ghadhabu yao juu ya Yerusalemu?”
While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”
9 Akanambia, “Uovu wa nyumba ya Israeli na Yuda unaongezeka sana. Nchi imejaa damu na mji umejaa upotovu, tangu waliposema, 'Yahwe ameisahau nchi; na Yahwe haoni!'
He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’
10 Hivyo kisha, macho yangu hataangalia kwa huruma, na sintoacha kuwaharibu. Badala yake nitaileta juu ya vichwa vyao.”
But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
11 Tazama! yule mtu aliyekuwa amevaa nguo ya kitani aliyekuwa na kifaa cha uandishi kwa uapende wa ubavuni mwake. Alitoa taarifa na kusema, “Nimemaliza yale yote uliyoniamuru.”
Then the man clothed in linen with the writing kit at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded.”
