Jeremiah 14
1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the words of the drought.
Hili ndilo neno la Bwana kwa Yeremia kuhusu ukame:
2 “Judea has mourned. And its gates have fallen and become hard to discern on the ground. And the outcry of Jerusalem has ascended.
“Yuda anaomboleza, miji yake inayodhoofika; wanaomboleza kwa ajili ya nchi, nacho kilio kinapanda kutoka Yerusalemu.
3 The greater ones have sent their lesser ones to the water. They went to draw water; they did not find water; they carried their vessels back empty. They were confounded and afflicted, and so they covered their heads.
Wakuu wanawatuma watumishi wao maji; wanakwenda visimani lakini humo hakuna maji. Wanarudi na vyombo bila maji; wakiwa na hofu na kukata tamaa, wanafunika vichwa vyao.
4 Because of the devastation of the earth, because rain did not fall upon the earth, the farmers were confounded; they covered their heads.
Ardhi imepasuka nyufa kwa sababu hakuna mvua katika nchi; wakulima wana hofu na wanafunika vichwa vyao.
5 For even the doe has given birth in the field, and then left it behind. For there was no grass.
Hata kulungu mashambani anamwacha mtoto wake aliyezaliwa wakati huo huo kwa sababu hakuna majani.
6 And the wild donkeys stood upon the rocks; like dragons, they drew in the wind, but their eyes failed. For there was no grass.”
Punda-mwitu wanasimama juu ya miinuko iliyo kame na kutweta kama mbweha; macho yao yanakosa nguvu za kuona kwa ajili ya kukosa malisho.”
7 “O Lord, if our iniquities have responded against us, let it be for the sake of your name. For our rebellions are many; we have sinned against you.
Ingawa dhambi zetu zinashuhudia juu yetu, Ee Bwana, tenda jambo kwa ajili ya jina lako. Kwa kuwa kukengeuka kwetu ni kukubwa, nasi tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
8 O Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of tribulation, why would you be like a sojourner in the land, and like a traveler turning aside for lodging?
Ee Tumaini la Israeli, Mwokozi wake wakati wa taabu, kwa nini unakuwa kama mgeni katika nchi, kama msafiri anayekaa kwa usiku mmoja tu?
9 Why would you be like a wandering man, like a strong man who is unable to save? But you, O Lord, are with us, and your name is invoked over us, so do not abandon us!”
Mbona unakuwa kama mtu aliyeshtukizwa, kama shujaa asiye na uwezo wa kuokoa? Wewe uko katikati yetu, Ee Bwana, nasi tunaitwa kwa jina lako; usituache!
10 Thus says the Lord to this people, who have loved to move their feet, and who have not rested, but who have not pleased the Lord: “Now he will remember their iniquities, and now he will visit against their sins.”
Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu watu hawa: “Wanapenda sana kutangatanga, hawaizuii miguu yao. Hivyo Bwana hawakubali; sasa ataukumbuka uovu wao na kuwaadhibu kwa ajili ya dhambi zao.”
11 And the Lord said to me: “Do not choose to pray for this people for good.
Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Usiombe kwa ajili ya mafanikio ya watu hawa.
12 When they will fast, I will not heed their petitions. And if they offer holocausts and victims, I will not accept them. For I will consume them by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence.”
Ingawa wanafunga, sitasikiliza kilio chao; hata wakitoa dhabihu za kuteketezwa na dhabihu za nafaka, sitazikubali. Badala yake, nitawaangamiza kwa upanga, njaa na tauni.”
13 And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! The prophets are saying to them: ‘You will not see the sword, and there will be no famine among you. Instead, he will give you true peace in this place.’”
Lakini nikasema, “Aa, Bwana Mwenyezi, manabii wanaendelea kuwaambia, ‘Hamtaona upanga wala kukabiliwa na njaa. Naam, nitawapa amani ya kudumu mahali hapa.’”
14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets prophesy falsely in my name. I did not send them, and I did not instruct them, and I have not spoken to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, and a divination, and a fraud, and a seduction from their own heart.
Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, “Manabii wanatabiri uongo kwa jina langu. Sikuwatuma, wala sikuwaweka, wala sikusema nao. Wanawatabiria maono ya uongo, maaguzi, maono ya sanamu zisizofaa kitu, na madanganyo ya mawazo yao wenyewe.
15 For this reason, thus says the Lord about the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I have not sent, who say: ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ By sword and famine those prophets will be consumed.
Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu manabii wanaotabiri kwa jina langu: Mimi sikuwatuma, lakini wanasema, ‘Hakuna upanga wala njaa itakayoigusa nchi hii.’ Manabii hao hao watakufa kwa upanga na njaa.
16 And the people, to whom they prophesy, will be cast into the streets of Jerusalem, due to famine and the sword, and there will be no one who may bury them, they and their wives, their sons and daughters, and I will pour out their own evil upon them.
Nao watu hao wanaowatabiria watatupwa nje katika barabara za Yerusalemu kwa sababu ya njaa na upanga. Hapatakuwepo yeyote wa kuwazika wao au wake zao, wana wao au binti zao. Nitawamwagia maafa wanayostahili.
17 And you shall speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed tears throughout the night and day, and let them not cease. For the virgin daughter of my people has been crushed by a great affliction, by a very grievous wound.”
“Nena nao neno hili: “‘Macho yangu na yatiririkwe na machozi usiku na mchana bila kukoma; kwa kuwa binti yangu aliye bikira, yaani watu wangu, amepata jeraha baya, pigo la kuangamiza.
18 “If I go out into the fields: behold, those slain by the sword. And if I enter into the city: behold, those weakened by famine. Likewise, the prophet, too, and the priest, have gone into a land that they did not know.
Kama nikienda mashambani, ninaona wale waliouawa kwa upanga; kama nikienda mjini, ninaona maangamizi ya njaa. Nabii na kuhani kwa pamoja wamekwenda katika nchi wasiyoijua.’”
19 Could you have utterly cast out Judah? Or has your soul abhorred Zion? Then why have you struck us, so much so that there is no health for us? We have waited for peace, but there is nothing good, and for the time of healing, and behold, trouble.
Je, umemkataa Yuda kabisa? Umemchukia Sayuni kabisa? Kwa nini umetuumiza hata hatuwezi kuponyeka? Tulitarajia amani, lakini hakuna jema lililotujia; tulitarajia wakati wa kupona lakini kuna hofu kuu tu.
20 O Lord, we acknowledge our impieties, the iniquities of our fathers, that we have sinned against you.
Ee Bwana, tunatambua uovu wetu na kosa la baba zetu; kweli tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
21 For the sake of your name, do not give us over into disgrace. And do not dishonor in us the throne of your glory. Remember, do not make void, your covenant with us.
Kwa ajili ya jina lako usituchukie kabisa; usikidharau kiti chako cha enzi kilichotukuka. Kumbuka agano lako nasi na usilivunje.
22 Could any of the graven images of the Gentiles send rain? Or are the heavens able to give showers? Have we not hoped in you, the Lord our God? For you have made all these things.”
Je, kuna sanamu yoyote isiyofaa kitu ya mataifa iwezayo kuleta mvua? Je, anga peke yake zaweza kutoa mvua? La hasha, ni wewe peke yako, Ee Bwana, Mungu wetu. Kwa hiyo tumaini letu liko kwako, kwa kuwa wewe ndiwe ufanyaye haya yote.
