< Jeremiah 14 >
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.
Hili ndilo neno la Bwana kwa Yeremia kuhusu ukame:
2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they bow down in black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
“Yuda anaomboleza, miji yake inayodhoofika; wanaomboleza kwa ajili ya nchi, nacho kilio kinapanda kutoka Yerusalemu.
3 And their nobles send their lads for water: they come to the pits, and find no water; their vessels return empty; they are ashamed and confounded, and cover 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 ground which is cracked, for there hath been no rain in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
Ardhi imepasuka nyufa kwa sababu hakuna mvua katika nchi; wakulima wana hofu na wanafunika vichwa vyao.
5 Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh her young, because there is no grass,
Hata kulungu mashambani anamwacha mtoto wake aliyezaliwa wakati huo huo kwa sababu hakuna majani.
6 And the wild asses stand on the high hills, they gasp for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.
Punda-mwitu wanasimama juu ya miinuko iliyo kame na kutweta kama mbweha; macho yao yanakosa nguvu za kuona kwa ajili ya kukosa malisho.”
7 Though our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, work Thou for Thy name's sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against Thee.
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 Thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
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 shouldest thou be as a man overcome, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet Thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and Thy name is called upon us; leave us not.
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 saith the LORD unto this people: Even so have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; therefore the LORD doth not accept them, now will He remember their iniquity, and punish 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 unto me: 'Pray not for this people for their good.
Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Usiombe kwa ajili ya mafanikio ya watu hawa.
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt-offering and meal-offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the 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 Then said I: 'Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them: Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured 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 Then the LORD said unto me: 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I unto them; they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of 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 Therefore thus saith the LORD: As for the prophets that prophesy in My name, and I sent them not, yet they say: Sword and famine shall not be in this land, by sword and famine shall those prophets 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 shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters; for I will pour their 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 thou shalt say this word unto them: Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
“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 forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! And if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest are gone about to a land, and knew it not.
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 Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath Thy soul loathed Zion? Why hast Thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold terror!
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 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, even the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against Thee.
Ee Bwana, tunatambua uovu wetu na kosa la baba zetu; kweli tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
21 Do not contemn us, for Thy name's sake, do not dishonour the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.
Kwa ajili ya jina lako usituchukie kabisa; usikidharau kiti chako cha enzi kilichotukuka. Kumbuka agano lako nasi na usilivunje.
22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not Thou He, O LORD our God, and do we not wait for Thee? For Thou hast 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.