< Jeremiah 38 >

1 Then Shephatiah, the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah, the son of Pashhur, and Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur, the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying:
Pea kuo fanongo ʻa Sefatia ko e foha ʻo Matani, mo Ketalia, ko e foha ʻo Pasuli, mo Sehukali ko e foha ʻo Selemaia, mo Pasuli ko e foha ʻo Malikia, ki he ngaahi lea ʻaia naʻe lea ʻaki ʻe Selemaia ki he kakai kotoa pē, ʻo pehē,
2 “Thus says the Lord: Whoever will remain in this city will die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence. But whoever will flee away from the Chaldeans, will live, and his soul will dwell in safety.
“ʻOku pehē mai ʻa Sihova, ‘Ko ia ʻoku nofo ʻi he kolo ni, te ne mate ʻi he heletā, mo e honge, pea mo e mahaki fakaʻauha: ka ko ia ʻe ʻalu kituʻa ki he kau Kalitia te ne moʻui; ʻe ʻiate ia ʻene moʻui ko e koloa kuo vetea, pea te ne moʻui.’
3 Thus says the Lord: This city will certainly be delivered into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.”
‌ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova, ‘Ko e moʻoni ʻe foaki ʻae kolo ni ki he nima ʻoe kau tau ʻo Papilone, pea te nau kapa ia.’”
4 And the leaders said to the king: “We petition you to put this man to death. For he is deliberately weakening the hands of the men of war, who have remained in this city, and the hands of the people, by speaking to them with these words. For this man is certainly not seeking peace for this people, but evil.”
Ko ia naʻe pehē ai ʻae houʻeiki ki he tuʻi, “ʻOku mau kole kiate koe, tuku ke tāmateʻi ʻae tangata ni: he ʻoku ne fakavaivaiʻi ʻae nima ʻoe kau tangata tau ʻoku kei toe ʻi he kolo ni, pea mo e nima ʻoe kakai kotoa pē, ʻi heʻene lea ʻaki ʻae ngaahi lea pehē kiate kinautolu: he ʻoku ʻikai kumi ʻe he tangata ni ʻae lelei ʻoe kakai ni, ka ko e kovi.”
5 And king Zedekiah said: “Behold, he is in your hands. For it is not fitting for the king to deny you anything.”
Pea pehē mai ʻa Setikia ko e tuʻi, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻi homou nima ia: he ʻoku ʻikai faʻa fai ʻe he tuʻi ha meʻa kiate kimoutolu.”
6 Therefore, they took Jeremiah and cast him into the pit of Malchiah, the son of Amelech, which was at the entrance to the prison. And they lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the pit, in which there was no water, but only mud. And so Jeremiah descended into the mire.
Pea naʻe ʻave ʻa Selemaia, ʻo lī ia ki he fale fakapoʻuli ʻo Malikia ko e foha ʻoe tuʻi, ʻaia naʻe ʻi he lotoʻā ʻoe fale fakapōpula: pea naʻe tukutuku hifo ʻaki ʻa Selemaia ʻae ngaahi maea. Ka naʻe ʻikai ha vai ʻi he fale fakapoʻuli, ka ko e kele pe; pea naʻe ngalo hifo ʻa Selemaia ʻi he kele.
7 Now Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch who was in the king’s house, heard that they had sent Jeremiah into the pit, and also that the king was sitting at the gate of Benjamin.
Pea kuo fanongo ʻa ʻIpetemeleki, ko e ʻItiopea, ko e tangata talifekau ʻaia naʻe nofo ʻi he fale ʻoe tuʻi, kuo tuku ʻa Selemaia ki he fale fakapoʻuli; pea ʻoku nofo ʻae tuʻi ʻi he matapā ʻo Penisimani,
8 And so Ebedmelech departed from the king’s house, and he spoke to the king, saying:
Naʻe ʻalu atu mei he fale ʻoe tuʻi ʻa ʻIpetemeleki, ʻo lea ki he tuʻi, ʻo pehē,
9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have perpetrated against Jeremiah the prophet, casting him into the pit so that he would die there from famine. For there is no more bread in the city.”
“Ko ʻeku ʻeiki ko e tuʻi, ʻoku kovi ʻae meʻa kotoa pē kuo fai ʻe he kau tangata ni kia Selemaia ko e palōfita, ʻaia kuo nau lī ki he fale fakapoʻuli, he te ne mate fiekaia ʻi he potu ko ia: he ʻoku ʻikai kei toe ha mā ʻi he kolo.”
10 And so the king instructed Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian, saying: “Take with you thirty men from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet from the pit, before he dies.”
Pea naʻe fekau ʻe he tuʻi ʻa ʻIpetemeleki ko e ʻItiopea, ʻo pehē, “ʻAlu mo koe ʻae kau tangata ʻe toko tolungofulu, pea toʻo hake ʻa Selemaia ko e palōfita mei he fale fakapōpula, ʻi he teʻeki ai te ne mate.”
11 Therefore, Ebedmelech, taking the men with him, entered into the king’s house to a place below the storehouse. And he took from there old garments, no longer in use, and he sent them down by rope to Jeremiah in the pit.
Pea naʻe ʻave ʻe ʻIpetemeleki ʻae kau tangata pea nau ʻo mo ia ki he fale ʻoe tuʻi, ki lalo ʻi he tukuʻanga koloa, pea toʻo mei ai ʻae ngaahi kofu motuʻa pea mahaehae, ʻo tukutuku hifo ia mo e ngaahi maea ki he fale fakapoʻuli kia Selemaia.
12 And Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian, said to Jeremiah: “Place these old garments, and these cut and decaying cloths, under your arms and over the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻa ʻIpetemeleki ko e ʻItiopea kia Selemaia, “Ai ni ʻae ngaahi kofu motuʻa pea mahaehae ʻi ho lalo faʻefine pea mo e ngaahi maea.” Pea naʻe fai ia ʻe Selemaia.
13 And they pulled up Jeremiah with the ropes, and they led him away from the pit. And Jeremiah remained in the vestibule of the prison.
Pea naʻa nau fusi hake ʻa Selemaia mo e ngaahi maea, pea ʻave ia mei he fale fakapōpula: ka ka nofo ʻa Selemaia ʻi he lotoʻā ʻoe fale fakapōpula.
14 And king Zedekiah sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to him at the third gate, which was at the house of the Lord. And the king said to Jeremiah: “I will question you about a matter. You shall conceal nothing from me.”
Pea naʻe toki fekau ʻe Setikia ko e tuʻi, pea ʻomi ʻa Selemaia, ko e palōfita kiate ia ki he hūʻanga lahi ʻaia ʻoku ʻi he fale ʻo Sihova: pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi kia Selemaia, “Te u fehuʻi kiate koe ha meʻa ʻe taha; pea ʻoua naʻa ke fufū ha meʻa ʻiate au.”
15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah: “If I announce to you, will you not put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.”
Pea pehē ʻe Selemaia kia Setikia, “Kapau te u fakahā ia kiate koe, ʻoku moʻoni ʻe ʻikai te ke tāmateʻi au? Pea kapau te u akonakiʻi koe te ke fanongo kiate au?”
16 Then king Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah, secretly, saying: “As the Lord lives, who made this soul for us, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of those men who are seeking your life.”
Pea naʻe fuakava fakafufū ʻa Setikia kia Selemaia, ʻo pehē, “ʻI he moʻui ʻa Sihova, ʻaia kuo ngaohi kiate kitaua ʻae laumālie ni, ʻe ʻikai te u tāmateʻi koe, pea ʻe ʻikai te u tukuange koe ki he nima ʻoe kau tangata ni ʻoku kumi hoʻo moʻui.”
17 And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If, having set out, you go to the rulers of the king of Babylon, your soul will live, and this city will not be burned with fire. And you and your house will be safe.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Selemaia kia Setikia, “ʻOku pehē mai ʻa Sihova, ko e ʻOtua ʻoe ngaahi kautau, ko e ʻOtua ʻo ʻIsileli; ‘Ko e moʻoni kapau te ke ʻalu atu ki he houʻeiki ʻoe tuʻi ʻo Papilone, ʻe moʻui ho laumālie, pea ʻe ʻikai tutu ʻaki ʻae kolo ni ʻae afi, pea te ke moʻui, mo ho fale:
18 But if you will not go to the rulers of the king of Babylon, this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire. And you will not escape from their hand.”
pea kapau ʻe ʻikai te ke ʻalu atu ki he houʻeiki ʻoe tuʻi ʻo Papilone, pea ʻe toki foaki ʻae kolo ni ki he nima ʻoe kau Kalitia, pea te nau tutu ʻaki ia ʻae afi, pea ʻe ʻikai te ke hao ʻi honau nima.’”
19 And king Zedekiah said to Jeremiah: “I am anxious, because of the Jews who have crossed over to the Chaldeans, lest perhaps I may be delivered into their hands, and they may abuse me.”
Pea pehē ʻe Setikia ko e tuʻi kia Selemaia, “ʻOku ou manavahē ki he kau Siu kuo hola ki he kau Kalitia, telia naʻa nau tukuange au ki honau nima, pea te nau manukiʻi au.”
20 But Jeremiah responded: “They will not deliver you. Listen, I ask you, to the voice of the Lord, which I am speaking to you, and it will be well with you, and your soul will live.
Pea pehē ʻe Selemaia, “ʻE ʻikai te nau tukuange koe. ʻOku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke talangofua ki he leʻo ʻo Sihova, ʻi he meʻa ʻoku ou lea ʻaki kiate koe: pea ko ia ʻe hoko ai ʻae lelei kiate koe, pea ʻe moʻui ho laumālie.
21 But if you refuse to depart, this is the word that the Lord has revealed to me:
Pea kapau ʻe ʻikai te ke ʻalu atu, ko eni ʻae lea kuo fakahā ʻe Sihova kiate au:
22 Behold, all the women who remain in the house of the king of Judah will be led away to the rulers of the king of Babylon. And the women will say: ‘Your men of peacefulness have led you astray, and they have prevailed against you. They have immersed your feet in mud and have set them in a slippery place. And they have withdrawn from you.’
‘ʻIo, vakai, ko e fefine kotoa pē ʻoku kei toe ʻi he fale ʻoe tuʻi ʻo Siuta, ʻe ʻomi ʻakinautolu ki he houʻeiki ʻoe tuʻi ʻo Papilone, pea te nau lea ʻo pehē, “Kuo akonakiʻi koe ʻe ho kāinga, pea kuo nau ikuna koe: kuo moʻua ho vaʻe ʻi he kele, pea kuo nau tafoki kimui.”
23 And all your wives and your sons will be led away to the Chaldeans, and you will not escape from their hands. Instead, you will be seized by the hand of the king of Babylon. And he will burn this city with fire.”
Pea te nau ʻomi ho ngaahi uaifi kotoa pē mo hoʻo fānau ki he kau Kalitia: pea ʻe ʻikai te ke hao ʻi honau nima, ka ʻe puke nima koe ʻe he tuʻi ʻo Papilone: pea ʻe tutu ʻaki ʻae afi ʻae kolo ni koeʻuhi ko koe.’”
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah: “Let no one know of these words, and you will not die.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Setikia kia Selemaia, “ʻOua naʻa tuku ke ʻilo ʻe ha tangata ʻae ngaahi lea ni, pea ʻe ʻikai te ke mate.
25 But if the leaders hear that I have spoken with you, and if they come to you, and say to you: ‘Tell us what you said to the king. Do not conceal it from us, and we will not put you to death. And tell us what the king said to you,’
Pea kapau ʻe fanongo ʻe he houʻeiki kuo tā alea mo koe, pea te nau haʻu kiate koe, pea pehē kiate koe, ‘Fakahā mai kiate kimautolu ʻaia kuo ke tala ki he tuʻi, ʻoua naʻa fakafufū ia ʻiate kimautolu, pea ʻe ʻikai te mau tāmateʻi koe; pea mo e meʻa foki kuo lea ʻaki ʻe he tuʻi kiate koe:’
26 then you shall say to them: ‘I presented my supplication before the king, so that he would not order me to be led back to the house of Jonathan, to die there.’”
Pea ke ke pehē kiate kinautolu, ‘Naʻaku fai ʻeku kole ʻi he ʻao ʻoe tuʻi, ke ʻoua naʻa pule ia ke toe ʻave au ki he fale ʻo Sonatani ke u mate ai.’”
27 Then all the leaders came to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. And he spoke to them in accord with all the words that the king had commanded him. And they withdrew from him, for they had learned nothing.
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻae houʻeiki kotoa pē kia Selemaia pea fehuʻi kiate ia: pea ne fakahā kiate kinautolu, ʻo hangē ko e ngaahi lea ni kotoa pē ʻaia naʻe fekau ʻe he tuʻi. Pea naʻe ʻikai te nau toe lea kiate ia; he naʻe ʻikai ke hā mai ʻae talanoa.
28 Yet truly, Jeremiah remained at the entrance of the prison, until the day when Jerusalem was seized. And it happened that Jerusalem was captured.
Pea naʻe nofo ʻa Selemaia ki he lotoʻā ʻoe fale fakapōpula ʻo aʻu ki he ʻaho naʻe kapa ai ʻa Selūsalema: pea naʻe ʻi ai ia ʻi he kapa ʻo Selūsalema.

< Jeremiah 38 >