< Jeremiah 17 >
1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond; it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars.
“Dhambi ya Yuda imechorwa kwa kalamu ya chuma, imeandikwa kwa ncha ya almasi, kwenye vibao vya mioyo yao na kwenye pembe za madhabahu zao.
2 Like the symbols of their sons are their altars, and their Asherim are by the leafy trees, upon the high hills.
Hata watoto wao wanakumbuka madhabahu zao na nguzo za Ashera, kandokando ya miti iliyotanda na juu ya vilima virefu.
3 O thou that sittest upon the mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures for a spoil, and thy high places, because of sin, throughout all thy borders.
Mlima wangu katika nchi pamoja na utajiri na hazina zako zote nitazitoa ziwe nyara, pamoja na mahali pako pa juu pa kuabudia miungu kwa sababu ya dhambi katika nchi yako yote.
4 And thou, even of thyself, shalt discontinue from thy heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not; for ye have kindled a fire in My nostril, which shall burn for ever.
Kwa kosa lako mwenyewe utaupoteza urithi niliokupa. Nitakufanya mtumwa wa adui zako katika nchi usiyoijua, kwa kuwa umeiwasha hasira yangu, nayo itawaka milele.”
5 Thus saith the LORD: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Amelaaniwa yeye amtegemeaye mwanadamu, ategemeaye mwenye mwili kwa ajili ya nguvu zake, ambaye moyo wake umemwacha Bwana.
6 For he shall be like a tamarisk in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited.
Atakuwa kama kichaka cha jangwani; hataona mafanikio yatakapokuja. Ataishi katika sehemu zisizo na maji, katika nchi ya chumvi ambapo hakuna yeyote aishiye humo.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose trust the LORD is.
“Lakini amebarikiwa mtu ambaye tumaini lake ni katika Bwana, ambaye matumaini yake ni katika Bwana.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but its foliage shall be luxuriant; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Atakuwa kama mti uliopandwa kando ya maji uenezao mizizi yake karibu na kijito cha maji. Hauogopi wakati wa joto ujapo; majani yake ni mabichi daima. Hauna hofu katika mwaka wa ukame na hautaacha kuzaa matunda.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceeding weak — who can know it?
Moyo ni mdanganyifu kuliko vitu vyote, ni mwovu kupita kiasi. Ni nani awezaye kuujua?
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
“Mimi Bwana huchunguza moyo na kuzijaribu nia, ili kumlipa mtu kwa kadiri ya mwenendo wake, kwa kadiri ya matendo yake yanavyostahili.”
11 As the partridge that broodeth over young which she hath not brought forth, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days he shall leave them, and at his end he shall be a fool.
Kama kware aanguaye mayai asiyoyataga, ndivyo alivyo mtu apataye mali kwa njia zisizo za haki. Maisha yake yafikapo katikati, siku zitamwacha, na mwishoni atabainika kuwa mpumbavu.
12 Thou throne of glory, on high from the beginning, thou place of our sanctuary,
Kiti cha enzi kilichotukuzwa, kilichoinuliwa tangu mwanzo, ndiyo sehemu yetu ya mahali patakatifu.
13 Thou hope of Israel, the LORD! All that forsake Thee shall be ashamed; they that depart from Thee shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
Ee Bwana, uliye tumaini la Israeli, wote wakuachao wataaibika. Wale wanaogeukia mbali nawe wataandikwa mavumbini kwa sababu wamemwacha Bwana, chemchemi ya maji yaliyo hai.
14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for Thou art my praise.
Uniponye, Ee Bwana, nami nitaponyeka; uniokoe nami nitaokoka, kwa maana wewe ndiwe ninayekusifu.
15 Behold, they say unto me: 'Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.'
Wao huendelea kuniambia, “Liko wapi neno la Bwana? Sasa na litimie!”
16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd after Thee; neither have I desired the woeful day; Thou knowest it; that which came out of my lips was manifest before Thee.
Sijakukimbia na kuacha kuwa mchungaji wako; unajua sijaitamani siku ya kukata tamaa. Kile kipitacho midomoni mwangu ki wazi mbele yako.
17 Be not a ruin unto me; Thou art my refuge in the day of evil.
Usiwe kwangu kitu cha kunitia hofu kuu; wewe ndiwe kimbilio langu katika siku ya maafa.
18 Let them be ashamed that persecute me, but let not me be ashamed; Let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; Bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
Watesi wangu na waaibishwe, lakini nilinde mimi nisiaibike; wao na watiwe hofu kuu, lakini unilinde mimi na hofu kuu. Waletee siku ya maafa; waangamize kwa maangamizi maradufu.
19 Thus said the LORD unto me: Go, and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
Hili ndilo Bwana aliloniambia: “Nenda ukasimame kwenye lango la watu, mahali ambako wafalme wa Yuda huingilia na kutokea, simama pia kwenye malango mengine yote ya Yerusalemu.
20 and say unto them: Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates;
Waambie, ‘Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi wafalme wa Yuda, nanyi watu wote wa Yuda, na kila mmoja aishiye Yerusalemu apitaye katika malango haya.
21 thus saith the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your souls, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Jihadharini msije mkabeba mzigo siku ya Sabato, wala kuingiza mzigo kupitia malango ya Yerusalemu.
22 neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work; but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers;
Msitoe mizigo nje ya nyumba zenu wala kufanya kazi yoyote wakati wa Sabato, lakini itakaseni siku ya Sabato, kama nilivyowaamuru baba zenu.
23 but they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
Hata hivyo hawakusikiliza wala kujali, walishupaza shingo zao, na hawakutaka kusikia wala kukubali adhabu.
24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto Me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but to hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
Lakini mkiwa waangalifu kunitii, asema Bwana, nanyi msipoleta mzigo wowote kupitia malango ya mji huu wakati wa Sabato, lakini mkaitakasa siku ya Sabato kwa kutofanya kazi siku hiyo,
25 then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall be inhabited for ever.
ndipo wafalme wakaao juu ya kiti cha enzi cha Daudi wataingia kupitia malango ya mji huu, pamoja na maafisa wao. Wao na maafisa wao watakuja wakiwa wamepanda magari na farasi, wakiandamana na watu wa Yuda na wale waishio Yerusalemu, nao mji huu utakaliwa na watu daima.
26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places round about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the Lowland, and from the mountains, and from the South, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meal-offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving, unto the house of the LORD.
Watu watakuja kutoka miji ya Yuda na vijiji vinavyoizunguka Yerusalemu, kutoka nchi ya Benyamini na chini ya vilima vya magharibi, kutoka nchi ya vilima na Negebu, wakileta sadaka za kuteketezwa na dhabihu, sadaka za nafaka, uvumba na sadaka za shukrani kwenye nyumba ya Bwana.
27 But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Lakini ikiwa hamtanitii mimi kwa kuitakasa Sabato na kwa kutochukua mzigo wowote mnapoingia katika malango ya Yerusalemu wakati wa Sabato, basi nitawasha moto usiozimika katika malango ya Yerusalemu utakaoteketeza ngome zake.’”