God Uses the Babylonians to Judge Israel
1A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 2“Son of man, turn your attention to Jerusalem. Preach against the temple. Prophesy against the land of Israel. 3Tell them, ‘The Lord says, “I am against you. I will pull out my sword. I will remove from you godly people and sinful people alike. 4Because I am going to remove them, my sword will be ready to use. I will strike down everyone from south to north. 5Then all people will know that I have pulled out my sword. I will not put it back. I am the Lord.” ’
6“Groan, son of man! Groan in front of your people. Groan with a broken heart and bitter sorrow. 7They will ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ Then you will say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. The hearts of all the people will melt away in fear. Their hands will not be able to help them. Their spirits will grow weak. And they will be so afraid they’ll wet themselves.’ The news is coming! You can be sure those things will happen,” announces the Lord and King.
8A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 9“Son of man, prophesy. Say, ‘The Lord says,
“ ‘ “A sword! A sword!
A sharp and shiny sword is coming from Babylon!
10It is sharpened to kill people.
It flashes like lightning.” ’ ”
The people say, “Should we take delight in the scepter of the Lord’s royal son? The sword looks down on every scepter like this.” 11The Lord says,
“I have told Nebuchadnezzar to shine his sword.
It is in his hand.
It has been sharpened and shined.
It is ready for the killer’s hand.
12Son of man, cry out and weep.
The sword is against my people.
It is against all the princes of Israel.
It will kill them
along with the rest of my people.
So beat your chest in sorrow.
13“You can be sure that testing will come. Why does the sword look down on the scepter? Because even the scepter will not continue to rule,” announces the Lord and King.
14“Son of man, prophesy.
Clap your hands.
Let the sword strike twice.
Let it strike even three times.
It is a sword to kill people.
It is a sword to kill many people.
It is closing in on them from every side.
15People’s hearts will melt away in fear.
Many will be wounded or killed.
I have prepared the sword to kill people
at all their city gates.
Look! It strikes like lightning.
It is in the killer’s hand.
16Sword, cut to the right.
Then cut to the left.
Strike down people everywhere your blade is turned.
17I too will clap my hands.
I won’t be so angry anymore.
I have spoken. I am the Lord.”
18A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 19“Son of man, mark out on a map two roads for the sword to take. The sword belongs to the king of Babylon. Both roads start from the same country. Put up a sign where the road turns off to the city of Rabbah. 20Mark out one road for the sword to take against Rabbah in Ammon. Mark out another against Judah and the walls of Jerusalem. 21The king of Babylon will stop at the place where the two roads meet. He will look for a special sign. He will cast lots by pulling arrows out of a bag. He will ask his gods for advice. And he will look carefully at the liver of a sheep. 22His right hand will pull out the arrow for Jerusalem. There he will get huge logs ready to knock down its gates. He will give the command to kill its people. He will sound the battle cry. He will build a ramp up to the city wall. He will bring in his war machines. 23The decision to attack Jerusalem will seem like the wrong advice to those who made a treaty with Nebuchadnezzar. But he will remind them that they are guilty. And he will take them away as prisoners.”
24So the Lord and King says, “You people have reminded everyone of how guilty you are. You have done it by refusing to obey me or any other authority. Everything you do clearly shows how sinful you are. So you will be taken away as prisoners.”
25King Zedekiah, your day has come. You are an unholy and evil prince in Israel. The day for you to be punished is here. 26The Lord and King says, “Take off your turban. Remove your crown. Things will not be as they were in the past. Those who are considered not important will be honored. And those who are honored will be considered not important. 27Jerusalem will fall. I will destroy it. It will not be rebuilt until the true king comes. After all, the kingdom belongs to him. I will give it to him.
28“Son of man, prophesy. Say, ‘The Lord and King speaks about the Ammonites. He also talks about the way they laugh because of Jerusalem’s fall. He says,
“ ‘ “A sword! A sword!
Nebuchadnezzar’s sword is ready to kill you.
It is shined to destroy you.
It flashes like lightning.
29The visions of your prophets are false.
They use magic to try to find out
what is going to happen to you.
But their magic tricks are lies.
The sword will strike the necks of you sinful people.
You will be killed.
The day for you to be punished has finally come.
Your time is up.
30Ammon, return your sword to its place.
In the land where you were created, I will judge you.
That is where you came from.
31I will pour out my anger on you.
I will breathe out my burning anger against you.
I will hand you over to mean people.
They are skilled at destroying others.
32You will be burned in the fire.
Your blood will be spilled in your land.
You will not be remembered anymore.
I have spoken. I am the Lord.” ’ ”
Babeli, Upanga Wa Mungu Wa Hukumu
121:1 Eze 20:1Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 221:2 Yer 11:12; Eze 20:46; Amo 7:16; Eze 9:6; 13:17“Mwanadamu, uelekeze uso wako juu ya Yerusalemu na uhubiri dhidi ya mahali patakatifu. Tabiri dhidi ya nchi ya Israeli 321:3 Yer 21:13; 47:6-7; Ay 9:22; Isa 27:1; Eze 14:21uiambie: ‘Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: Mimi niko kinyume nawe. Nitautoa upanga wangu kwenye ala yake na kumkatilia mbali mwenye haki na mwovu. 421:4 Eze 20:47; Law 26:25; Yer 25:27Kwa sababu nitamkatilia mbali mwenye haki na mwovu, upanga wangu utakuwa wazi dhidi ya kila mmoja kuanzia kusini mpaka kaskazini. 521:5 Eze 20:47-48; Isa 45:23; 34:5Ndipo watu wote watajua ya kuwa Mimi Bwana nimeutoa upanga wangu kwenye ala yake, nao hautarudi humo tena.’
621:6 Isa 22:4; Yer 30:6; Eze 9:4“Kwa hiyo lia kwa uchungu, mwanadamu! Lia kwa uchungu mbele yao kwa moyo uliopondeka na kwa huzuni nyingi. 721:7 Yer 47:3; Eze 7:17; Ay 23:2; Yos 7:5; Eze 22:14; Za 6:2; Ay 11:16Nao watakapokuuliza, ‘Kwa nini unalia kwa uchungu?’ Utasema hivi, ‘Kwa sababu ya habari zinazokuja. Kila moyo utayeyuka na kila mkono utalegea, kila roho itazimia na kila goti litalegea kama maji.’ Habari hizo zinakuja! Hakika zitatokea, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.”
8Neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema: 921:9 Kum 32:41“Mwanadamu, tabiri na useme, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo:
“ ‘Upanga, upanga,
ulionolewa na kusuguliwa:
1021:10 Za 105:5-6; Isa 34:5-6; Kum 32:41umenolewa kwa ajili ya mauaji,
umesuguliwa ili ungʼae
kama umeme wa radi!
“ ‘Je, tuifurahie fimbo ya utawala ya mwanangu Yuda? Upanga unaidharau kila fimbo ya namna hiyo.
1121:11 Yer 46:4“ ‘Upanga umewekwa tayari ili kusuguliwa,
ili upate kushikwa mkononi,
umenolewa na kusuguliwa,
umewekwa tayari kwa mkono wa muuaji.
1221:12 Yer 31:19Piga kelele na uomboleze, ee mwanadamu,
kwa kuwa upanga u dhidi ya watu wangu;
u dhidi ya wakuu wote wa Israeli.
Wametolewa wauawe kwa upanga
pamoja na watu wangu.
Kwa hiyo pigapiga kifua chako.
1321:13 Ay 9:23; 2Kor 8:2“ ‘Kwa maana upanga huu umejaribiwa na kuhakikishwa, itakuwaje basi fimbo ya ufalme ya Yuda inayoudharau kama haitakuwepo tena, bali itakuwa imeondolewa kabisa? asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’
1421:14 Hes 24:10; Eze 6:11; 30:24; 8:12“Hivyo basi, mwanadamu, tabiri
na ukapige makofi.
Upanga wako na upige mara mbili,
naam, hata mara tatu.
Ni upanga wa kuchinja,
upanga wa mauaji makuu,
ukiwashambulia kutoka kila upande.
1521:15 2Sam 17:10; Za 22:14Ili mioyo ipate kuyeyuka
na wanaouawa wawe wengi,
nimeweka upanga wa kuchinja
kwenye malango yao yote.
Lo! Umetengenezwa
umetemete kama umeme wa radi,
umeshikwa kwa ajili ya kuua.
1621:16 Eze 14:17Ee upanga, kata upande wa kuume,
kisha upande wa kushoto,
mahali popote makali yako
yatakapoelekezwa.
1721:17 Eze 22:13; 5:13; 14:17; 16:42Mimi nami nitapiga makofi,
nayo ghadhabu yangu itapungua.
Mimi Bwana nimesema.”
18Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 1921:19 Eze 14:21; 32:11; Yer 31:21“Mwanadamu, weka alama njia mbili ambazo upanga wa mfalme wa Babeli utapitia, njia hizo zikianzia katika nchi hiyo hiyo. Weka kibao pale ambapo njia zinagawanyika kuelekea mjini. 2021:20 Yer 49:2; Amo 1:14; Kum 3:11Weka alama njia moja kwa ajili ya upanga upate kuja dhidi ya Raba ya Waamoni na nyingine upate kuja dhidi ya Yuda na Yerusalemu iliyozungushiwa ngome. 2121:21 Mit 16:33; Hes 20:7; 23:23; Zek 10:2Kwa kuwa mfalme wa Babeli sasa amesimama katika njia panda, katika makutano ya njia mbili, akipiga ramli: anapiga kura kwa kutumia mishale, anataka shauri kwa sanamu zake, anachunguza maini ya wanyama. 2221:22 2Fal 25:1; Eze 4:2; Yer 51:14; 4:16; 32:24; Eze 26:9Upande wake wa kuume inakuja kura ya Yerusalemu, ambapo ataweka vyombo vya kuvunjia boma, ili kuamrisha mauaji, kupiga ukelele wa vita, kuweka vyombo vya kuvunjia boma kwenye malango, kuweka jeshi kuzunguka na kufanya uzingiraji. 2321:23 Hes 5:15; Eze 17:19Itakuwa kama kupiga ramli kwa uongo kwa wale watu ambao wameapa kumtii yeye. Lakini mfalme wa Babeli atawakumbusha juu ya uovu wao na kuwachukua mateka.
24“Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: ‘Kwa sababu enyi watu mmekumbusha uovu wenu kwa kuasi waziwazi, mkidhihirisha dhambi zenu katika yale yote mfanyayo, kwa kuwa mmefanya jambo hili, mtachukuliwa mateka.
2521:25 Eze 35:5; Mwa 13:13; Eze 22:4“ ‘Ee mtawala kafiri na mwovu wa Israeli, ambaye siku yako imewadia, ambaye wakati wako wa adhabu umefikia kilele chake, 2621:26 Isa 28:5; Yer 13:18; Isa 40:4; Mt 23:12; Za 75:7hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Vua kilemba, ondoa taji. Kwa kuwa mambo hayatakuwa kama yalivyokuwa. Aliye mnyonge atakwezwa na aliyekwezwa atashushwa. 2721:27 Mwa 49:10; Za 2:6; Hag 2:21-22; Yer 23:5-6; Eze 37:24Mahame! Mahame! Nitaufanya mji kuwa mahame! Hautajengwa upya mpaka aje yule ambaye ndiye mwenye haki nao; yeye ndiye nitakayempa.’
2821:28 Mwa 19:38; Sef 3:8; Yer 12:12“Nawe, mwanadamu, tabiri na useme, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo kuhusu Waamoni na matukano yao.
“ ‘Upanga, upanga,
umefutwa kwa ajili ya kuua,
umesuguliwa ili kuangamiza
na unametameta kama umeme wa radi!
2921:29 Eze 22:28; 35:5; Yer 27:9Wakati wakitoa maono ya uongo kwa ajili yako,
wanapobashiri uongo kwa ajili yako,
wanakuweka wewe kwenye shingo za watu wapotovu,
wale walio waovu,
wale ambao siku yao imewadia,
wakati wa adhabu yao ya mwisho.
3021:30 Yer 47:6; Eze 16:3Urudishe upanga kwenye ala yake!
Katika mahali ulipoumbiwa,
katika nchi ya baba zako,
huko nitakuhukumu.
3121:31 Za 79:6; Eze 22:20-21; Yer 51:20-23; Za 18:15; Isa 11:4; Eze 16:39Nitamwaga ghadhabu yangu juu yako
na kupuliza moto wa hasira yangu dhidi yako;
nitakutia mikononi mwa watu wakatili,
watu stadi katika kuangamiza.
3221:32 Eze 20:47-48; 25:10; Mal 4:1Mtakuwa kuni za kuwashia moto,
damu yenu itamwagwa katika nchi yenu,
wala hamtakumbukwa tena;
kwa maana Mimi Bwana nimesema.’ ”
