UHezekheli 9
1 Lapho-ke ngamuzwa ememeza ngelizwi elikhulu esithi, “Letha abalindi bedolobho lapha, omunye lomunye elesikhali esandleni sakhe.”
Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
2 Ngasengibona amadoda ayisithupha evelela malungana lesango langaphezulu, elikhangele enyakatho, ngamunye ephethe izikhali ezibulalayo ezandleni zakhe. Ayelenye indoda eyayigqoke ilineni eyayilezinto zokubhala emhlubulweni wayo. Angena ema phansi kwe-alithari lethusi.
Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Khathesi inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli yaya phezulu isuka ngaphezu kwamakherubhi, lapho eyayikade ikhona, yasudukela emnyango wethempeli. Lapho-ke uThixo wabiza indoda eyayigqoke ilineni ilezinto zokubhala emhlubulweni wayo
The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.
4 wathi kuyo, “Yana ezindaweni zonke zedolobho laseJerusalema ubeke uphawu emabunzini alabo ababubulayo bekhala ngenxa yezinto zonke ezenyanyekayo ezenziwa kulo.”
Yahweh said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
5 Ngisalalele, wathi kwabanye, “Mlandeleni kulolonke idolobho libulale, kungekho sihawu kumbe uzwelo.
To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.
6 Qothulani amaxhegu, amajaha lezintombi, amanina labantwana, kodwa lingathinti loba ngubani olophawu. Qalisani endlini yami engcwele.” Ngakho baqalisa ngabadala ababephambi kwethempeli.
Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” Then they began at the old men who were before the house.
7 Wasesithi kubo, “Ngcolisani ithempeli ligcwalise amaguma ngababuleweyo. Hambani!” Ngakho bahamba baqalisa ukubulala edolobheni lonke.
He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” They went out, and struck in the city.
8 Kwathi lapho bebulala, mina ngisele ngedwa, ngathi mbo phansi ngobuso, ngakhala ngathi, “Awu Thixo Wobukhosi! Uzaqothula yonke insalela yako-Israyeli kulokhu kuphuphuma kolaka lwakho phezu kweJerusalema na?”
While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9 Wangiphendula wathi, “Isono sendlu ka-Israyeli lekaJuda sikhulu kakhulu; ilizwe ligcwele ukuchithwa kwegazi, ledolobho ligcwele ukungalungi. Bathi, ‘UThixo uselidelile ilizwe; uThixo kaboni.’
Then he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh doesn’t see.’
10 Ngakho angiyikuba lesihawu kubo kumbe ngibayekele, kodwa lokhu abakwenzileyo ngizakwehlisela phezu kwamakhanda abo.”
As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.”
11 Lapho-ke indoda eyayigqoke ilineni ilezinto zokubhala emhlubulweni yaletha ilizwi isithi, “Ngenze njengokulaya kwakho.”
Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, “I have done as you have commanded me.”
