Yeremiya 18
1 Yehova anawuza Yeremiya kuti,
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 “Pita ku nyumba ya munthu wowumba mbiya, ndipo kumeneko ndikakuwuza mawu anga.”
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Choncho ndinatsikira ku nyumba ya wowumba mbiya, ndipo ndinamuona akuwumba mbiya pa mkombero.
So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].
4 Tsono amati ngati mbiya imene waumba ikhala yosawumbika bwino ankayiphwanya nʼkuwumbanso ina monga mmene afunira ndi dothi lake lomwe lija.
But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5 Kenaka Yehova anandiwuza kuti,
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 “Inu Aisraeli, kodi Ine sindingathe kuchita nanu monga amachitira wowumba mbiya?” akutero Yehova. “Inu muli mʼmanja mwanga ngati mtapo mʼmanja mwa wowumba mbiya.
“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.
7 Ngati nditalengeza kuti mtundu wina wa anthu kapena ufumu wina ndiwuzula, kuwugwetsa ndi kuwuwononga,
There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.
8 ndipo ngati mtundu wa anthu umene ndawuchenjezawo ulapa zoyipa zawo, ndiye kuti Ine ndidzaleka ndipo sindidzabweretsa pa anthuwo mavuto amene ndinakonzekera kuwachitira.
But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9 Ndipo ngati ndilengeza kuti ndikufuna kumanga ndi kukhazikitsa mtundu wa anthu kapena ufumu.
And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
10 Koma mtunduwo ukachita choyipa pamaso panga nʼkusandimvera, ndiye kuti sindidzawuchitiranso zabwino zimene ndimafuna ndiwuchitire.
But if [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
11 “Ndipo tsopano kawawuze anthu a ku Yuda ndi amene akukhala mu Yerusalemu kuti, ‘Yehova akuti, Taonani! Ndikukukonzerani mavuto, ndi kuganizira zoti ndikulangeni. Kotero siyani makhalidwe anu oyipa aliyense wa inu, ndipo mukonzenso makhalidwe anu ndi zochita zanu.’
Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”
12 Koma iwo adzayankha kuti, ‘Zimenezo nʼzosathandiza. Ife tidzapitiriza kuchita zomwe takonzekera; aliyense wa ife adzatsatira zoyipa za mtima wake wokanika.’”
[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13 Yehova akuti, “Uwafunse anthu a mitundu ina kuti: Kodi ndani anamvapo zinthu zofanana ndi zimenezi? Israeli amene anali ngati namwali wanga wachita chinthu choopsa kwambiri.
So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!
14 Kodi chisanu chimatha pa matanthwe otsetsereka a phiri la Lebanoni? Kodi madzi ozizira amitsinje ochokera ku phiri la Lebanoni adzamphwa?
The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.
15 Komatu anthu anga andiyiwala; akufukiza lubani kwa mafano achabechabe. Amapunthwa mʼnjira zawo zakale. Amayenda mʼnjira zachidule ndi kusiya njira zabwino.
But my people [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.
16 Dziko lawo amalisandutsa chipululu, chinthu chochititsa manyazi nthawi zonse; onse odutsapo adzadabwa kwambiri ndipo adzapukusa mitu yawo.
Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].
17 Ngati mphepo yochokera kummawa, ndidzawabalalitsa pamaso pa adani awo; ndidzawafulatira osawathandiza pa tsiku la mavuto awo.”
I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”
18 Anthuwo anati, “Tiyeni, tipangane zoti timuchitire Yeremiya; pakuti ansembe otiphunzitsa malamulo tidzakhala nawobe. Anthu anzeru otilangiza tidzakhala nawo, ndiponso aneneri otilalikira mawu. Choncho tiyeni timupezere chifukwa ndipo tisamvere chilichonse chimene akunena.”
Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19 Ndipo ndinapemphera kwa Yehova kuti, “Inu Yehova, ndimvereni; imvani zimene adani anga akunena za ine!
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
20 Kodi chinthu choyipa nʼkukhala dipo la chinthu chabwino? Komabe iwo andikumbira dzenje. Kumbukirani kuti ndinadzayima pamaso panu kudzawapempherera kuti muwachotsere mkwiyo wanu.
I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very angry with them.
21 Choncho langani ana awo ndi njala; aperekeni kuti aphedwe ndi lupanga. Akazi awo asanduke opanda ana ndi amasiye; amuna awo aphedwe ndi mliri, anyamata awo aphedwe ndi lupanga ku nkhondo.
So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
22 Kulira kumveke kuchokera mʼnyumba zawo mutawatumizira gulu lankhondo mwadzidzidzi kuti liwakanthe. Iwo andikumbira dzenje kuti ndigweremo ndipo atchera msampha mapazi anga.
Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.
23 Koma Inu Yehova, mukudziwa ziwembu zawo zonse zofuna kundipha. Musawakhululukire zolakwa zawo kapena kufafaniza machimo awo pamaso panu. Agonjetsedwe pamaso panu; muwalange muli wokwiya.”
Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”
