Waabudu Sanamu Wauawa
1Kisha nikamsikia akiita kwa sauti kubwa akisema, “Walete wasimamizi wa mji hapa, kila mmoja akiwa na silaha mkononi mwake.” 29:2 Dan 10:5; 12:6; Ufu 15:6; Eze 10:2; Law 16:4Nami 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.
39:3 1Sam 4:21; Eze 10:4; 11:22Basi 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, 49:4 Mwa 4:15; 2Kor 1:22; Yer 7:29; Amo 6:6; Za 119:53; Kut 12:7; Yer 25:29akamwambia, “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.”
59:5 Yer 13:14; Eze 5:11; Kut 32:27; Isa 13:18Nikiwa ninasikia, akawaambia wale wengine, “Mfuateni anapopita katika mji wote mkiua, pasipo huruma wala masikitiko. 69:6 Eze 8:11-16; Yer 25:29; 1Pet 4:17; Yer 7:32; Mwa 4:15; Kut 12:7Waueni 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.
79:7 Eze 6:7Ndipo akawaambia, “Linajisini Hekalu na mkazijaze kumbi zake maiti za wale waliouawa. Nendeni!” Kwa hiyo wakaenda wakaanza kuua watu mjini kote. 89:8 Yos 7:6; Hes 14:5; Amo 7:1-6; Eze 11:3; 7:8Wakati 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?”
99:9 Za 58:2; Hab 1:4; Ay 22:13; Eze 14:23; Isa 29:15; Eze 22:13Bwana 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.’ 109:10 Yer 13:14; Eze 22:29; Isa 22:5; Eze 23:49; 8:18; Isa 22:5Kwa hiyo sitawahurumia wala kuwaachilia lakini nitaleta juu ya vichwa vyao, yale waliyoyatenda.”
11Ndipo 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.”
The Lord Judges Those Who Worship Other Gods
1Then I heard the Lord call out in a loud voice. He said, “Bring here those who are appointed to bring my judgment on the city. Make sure each of them has a weapon in his hand.” 2I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate. It faces north. Each of them had a deadly weapon in his hand. A man wearing linen clothes came along with them. He was carrying a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3The glory of the God of Israel had been above the cherubim. It moved from there to the doorway of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man who was dressed in linen clothes. He had the writing kit. 4The Lord said to him, “Go all through Jerusalem. Look for those who are sad and sorry about all the things being done there. I hate those things. Put a mark on the foreheads of those people.”
5I heard him speak to the six men. He said, “Follow him through the city. Do not show any pity or concern. 6Kill the old men and women, the young men and women, and the children. But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Start at my temple.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
7Then he said to the men, “Make the temple ‘unclean.’ Fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go!” So they went out and started killing people all through the city. 8While they were doing it, I was left alone. I fell with my face toward the ground. I cried out, “Lord and King, are you going to destroy all the Israelites who are still left alive? Will you pour out your great anger on all those who remain in Jerusalem?”
9He answered me, “The sin of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is full of murderers. Its people are not being fair to one another anywhere in Jerusalem. They say, ‘The Lord has deserted the land. He doesn’t see us.’ 10So I will not spare them or feel sorry for them. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.”
11Then the man wearing linen clothes returned. He had the writing kit. He reported, “I’ve done what you commanded.”
