Jeremiah 40
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after Nebuzaradan, the leader of the military, had released him from Ramah, where he had taken him, bound in chains, along with all those who were being carried away from Jerusalem and from Judah, and were being led to Babylon.
Hili lilikuwa neno ambalo lilikuja kwa Yeremia toka kwa Yahwe baada ya Nebuzaradni, amri wa walinzi wa mfalme, amemtuma mbali kutoka Ramah. Huko ndiko Yeremia alikuwa amechukuliwa, na huko alikuwa amefungwa kwa minyororo. Alikuwa miongoni mwa mateka wote ya Yerusalem na Yuda ambayo walipaswa kuwa matekani Babeli.
2 Therefore, the leader of the military, taking Jeremiah, said to him: “The Lord your God has declared this evil over this place,
Mlinzi mkuu alimchukua Yeremia na kusema kwake, “Yahwe Mungu wako aliamrisha maafa haya dhidi ya eneo hili.
3 and he has brought it. And the Lord has done just as he has spoken. For you have sinned against the Lord, and you have not heeded his voice, and so this word has happened to you.
Basi Yahwe alileta. Alifanya kama alivyoamrisha, kwani ninyi watu mmefanya dhambi dhidi yake na hamkutii sauti yake. Hii ni sababu ya jambo hili limetokea kwenu. Lakini sasa tazama!
4 Now therefore, behold, I have released you this day from the chains which were on your hands. If it pleases you to come with me into Babylon, then come. And I will set my eyes upon you. But if it displeases you to come with me into Babylon, then remain. Behold, all the land is in your sight. Whatever you will choose, and wherever it will please you to go, so shall you go, proceeding to that place.
Nimekuacha huru leo toka kwenye minyororo iliyokuwa kwenye mikono yako. Kama ni vizuri katika macho yako kuja nami Babeli, njoo, na nitakujali. Lakini kama si vizuri katika macho yako kuja pamoja nami, basi usifanye hivyo. Tazama nchi yote mbele yako. Nenda ambapo ni pazuri na sawa katika macho yako kwenda.”
5 And you may decline to come with me. For you may live with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah. Therefore, you may live with him in the midst of the people. And you may go wherever it will please you to go.” And the leader of the military also gave him foods and gifts, and he released him.
Wakati Yeremia hakujibu, Nebuzaradani alisema, “Nenda kwa Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam mwana wa Shafani, ambaye mfalme wa Babeli amemweka msimamizi wa miji ya Yuda. Baki pamoja naye miongoni mwa watu au nenda popote ni pazuri katika macho yako kwenda.” Amri wa walinzi wa mfalme alimpa chakula na zawadi, na kisha akamtuma mbali.
6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And he lived with him in the midst of the people, those who had been left behind in the land.
Basi Yeremia alienda kwa Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam, huko Mizpah. Alibaki pamoja naye miongoni mwa watu ambao walibaki nyuma katika nchi.
7 And when all the leaders of the army, who had been dispersed throughout the regions, they and their associates, had heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, governor of the land, and that he had committed to him the men, and women, and children, and the poor of the land, who had not been carried away to Babylon,
Sasa baadhi ya amri wa wanawajeshi wa Yuda ambao walikuwa bado katika uwanja- wao na watu wao - walisikia kuwa mfalme wa Babeli alimfanya Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam, liwali juu ya nchi. Pia walisikia kuwa amemweka kusimamia wanaume, wanawake, na watoto ambao walikuwa watu maskini katika nchi, wale ambao hawakuwa wamechukuliwa mateka Babeli.
8 they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah, with Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah, the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai, who were of Netophathi, and Jezaniah, the son of Maacathi, they and their men.
Basi walienda kwa Gedalia huko Mizpa. Hawa watu walikuwa Ishmaeli mwana Nethania; Yonathan na Yonathani, wana wa Kareaa; Seraya mwana wa Tanhumethi; wana wa Efai Netophathite; na Yezania mwana wa Mmaaka-wao na watu wao.
9 And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their companions, saying: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.
Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam mwana wa Shafan, alichukua kiapo kwao na kwa watu wao, na kusema kwao, “Usiogope kuwatumikia maafisa wa Wakaldayo. Ishi katika nchi na kumtumkia mfalme wa Babeli, na itakuwa vizuri kwenu.
10 Behold, I live at Mizpah, so that I may follow the instruction of the Chaldeans who are sent to us. But as for you, gather the vintage, and the harvest, and the oil, and store it up in your vessels, and dwell in your cities, which you hold.”
Na tazama, Ninaishi Mizpa kukutana pamoja na Wakaldayo waliokuja kwetu. Basi vuna mvinyo, matunda ya kiangazi, na mafuta na viweke kwenye vyombo vyako. Uishi katika miji ambayo umechukua.”
11 So then, all the Jews, who were in Moab, and among the sons of Ammon, and in Idumea, and in all the regions, when they had heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judea, and that he had made Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor over them,
Kisha Wayahudi wote katika Moabu, miongoni mwa watu wa Ammoni, na katika Edomu, na katika kila nchi ilisikiwa kwamba mfalme wa Babalei ameruhusu mabaki ya Yuda kubaki, kwamba alimteua Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam mwana wa Shafani juu yao.
12 all the Jews, I say, returned from all the places to which they had fled, and they came into the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered wine and an exceedingly great harvest.
Basi Wayahudi wote walirudi toka kila eneo ambako walikuwa wametawanyika. Walirudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda, kwa Gedalia huko Mizpa. Walivuna mvinyo na matunda ya kiangazi kwa wingi.
13 Then Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the army, who had been dispersed in the regions, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
Yonathan mwana wa Karea na amri wote wa jeshi katika uwanja walikuja kwa Gedalia huko Mizpa.
14 And they said to him: “Know that Baalis, the king of the sons of Ammon, has sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to strike down your life.” And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, did not believe them.
Walisema kwake, “Haujui kuwa Baalis mfalme wa watu wa Ammoni amemtuma Ishmael mwana wa Nethania kukuua?” Lakini Gedalia mwana wa Ahikim hakuwaamini.
15 But Johanan, the son of Kareah, spoke to Gedaliah, separately, at Mizpah, saying: “I will go, and I will strike down Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, without anyone knowing; otherwise he may kill you, and all the Jews will be scattered who have been gathered to you, and the remnant of Judah will perish.”
Basi Yonathan mwana wa Karea alizungumza kwa siri kwa Gedalia huko Mizpa na kusema, “Niruhusu niende kumuua Ishmael mwana wa Nethania. Hakuna atakaye nituhumu. Kwanini asikuue wewe? Kwanini kuruhusu Yuda yote ambayo imekusanywa kwako kutawanyishwa na mabaki ya Yuda kuharibiwa?”
16 And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Johanan, the son of Kareah: “Do not do this word. For what you have said about Ishmael is false.”
Lakini Gedalia mwana wa Ahikam alisema kwa Yonathan mwana wa Karea, “Usifanye jambo hili, kwa kuwa unasema uongo kuhusu Ishmael.”
