Jeremiah 21
1 This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah to talk with him. They said,
Neno lilimjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana wakati Mfalme Sedekia alipowatuma Pashuri mwana wa Malkiya, na kuhani Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kwake, kusema:
2 “Please speak with Lord on our behalf because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will do some miracle for us like all those miracles he used to do, so that Nebuchadnezzar will retreat from us.”
“Tuulizie sasa kwa Bwana, kwa sababu Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli anatushambulia. Labda Bwana atatenda maajabu kwa ajili yetu kama nyakati zilizopita, ili Nebukadneza atuondokee.”
3 But Jeremiah replied, “Tell Zedekiah this:
Lakini Yeremia akawajibu, “Mwambieni Sedekia,
4 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I'm going to turn the weapons you're holding against you, the weapons you're using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonian army outside the wall besieging you. I'm going to bring them right into the center of this city.
‘Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Ninakaribia kuwageuzia silaha za vita zilizo mikononi mwenu, ambazo mnatumia kupigana na mfalme wa Babeli na Wakaldayo ambao wako nje ya ukuta wakiwazunguka kwa jeshi. Nami nitawakusanya ndani ya mji huu.
5 I myself will fight against you with all my power and might, with the full force of my furious anger.
Mimi mwenyewe nitapigana dhidi yenu kwa mkono wangu ulionyooshwa na mkono wa nguvu, kwa hasira na ghadhabu kali na ukali mwingi.
6 I will kill those living in this city, human beings and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.
Nitawaangamiza waishio katika mji huu, watu na wanyama, nao watauawa kwa tauni ya kutisha.
7 After that, declares the Lord, I'm going to hand you over, Zedekiah king of Judah, as well as your officers and the people who are left in this city after the plague and war and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to your enemies who want you dead. He will attack you; he won't spare you or show you any pity or mercy.
Baada ya hayo, nitamtia Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda, maafisa wake na watu wa mji huu ambao walinusurika tauni, upanga na njaa, mkononi mwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, na kwa adui zao wale wanaotafuta uhai wao. Atawaua kwa upanga; hatakuwa na rehema juu yao au huruma wala kuwasikitikia,’ asema Bwana.
8 Tell the people this as well: This is what the Lord says: Look, I'm placing before you the path of life and the path of death.
“Zaidi ya hayo, waambie watu hawa, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tazama, naweka mbele yenu njia ya uzima, na njia ya mauti.
9 If you stay in this city you'll die either by sword and famine and plague, but if you leave and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging you, you will live. In fact it will be like gaining your life as plunder from a war.
Yeyote atakayekaa katika mji huu atakufa kwa upanga, njaa au tauni. Lakini yeyote atakayetoka na kujisalimisha kwa Wakaldayo ambao wameuzunguka mji huu kwa jeshi, atanusurika, naye ataishi.
10 For I am determined to bring disaster on this city, and not blessings, declares the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.
Nimekusudia kuufanyia mji huu jambo baya, wala si jema. Utatiwa mikononi mwa mfalme wa Babeli, naye atauteketeza kwa moto, asema Bwana.’
11 In addition tell the royal family of the king of Judah to listen to the Lord's message:
“Zaidi ya hayo, ambia nyumba ya mfalme ya Yuda, ‘Sikia neno la Bwana,
12 Descendants of David, this is what the Lord says: Make sure you judge fairly every day. Protect those who are being unjustly treated from those corrupt people, otherwise because of their evil actions my anger will blaze out like fire that can't be put out.
Ewe nyumba ya Daudi, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: “‘Hukumuni kwa haki kila asubuhi, mwokoeni mikononi mwa mdhalimu yeye aliyetekwa nyara, la sivyo ghadhabu yangu italipuka na kuwaka kama moto kwa sababu ya uovu mlioufanya: itawaka na hakuna wa kuizima.
13 Watch out, because I'm going to fight against you people who live above the valley on top of a flat rock, declares the Lord. You say, ‘Who can attack us? Who can break down our defenses?’
Niko kinyume nawe, ee Yerusalemu, wewe uishiye juu ya bonde hili kwenye uwanda wa juu wa miamba, asema Bwana, wewe usemaye, “Ni nani awezaye kuja kinyume chetu? Nani ataingia mahali pa kimbilio letu?”
14 I'm going to punish you as you deserve for what you've done, declares the Lord. I will set your forest on fire and it will burn up everything around you.”
Nitawaadhibu kama istahilivyo matendo yenu, asema Bwana. Nitawasha moto katika misitu yenu ambao utateketeza kila kitu kinachowazunguka.’”
