< Jeremiah 11 >

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
Hili ndilo neno lililomjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana:
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
“Sikia maneno ya agano hili, nawe uwaambie watu wa Yuda na wale waishio Yerusalemu.
3 And say thou unto them, Thus hath said the Lord God of Israel, Cursed be the man that hearkeneth not to the words of this covenant,
Waambie kwamba hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Amelaaniwa mtu ambaye hatayatii maneno ya agano hili,
4 Which I commanded your fathers on the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Hearken to my voice, and do the same, in accordance with all which I may command you; and so shall ye be to me for a people, and I will be to you for a God;
maneno niliyowaamuru baba zenu nilipowatoa katika nchi ya Misri, kutoka tanuru la kuyeyushia vyuma.’ Nilisema, ‘Nitiini mimi na mfanye kila kitu ninachowaamuru, nanyi mtakuwa watu wangu, nami nitakuwa Mungu wenu.
5 In order that I may fulfill the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give unto them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. And I answered, and said, So be it, O Lord.
Kisha nitatimiza kiapo nilichowaapia baba zenu, kuwapa nchi itiririkayo maziwa na asali,’ nchi ambayo mnaimiliki leo.” Nikajibu, “Amen, Bwana.”
6 Then said the Lord unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
Bwana akaniambia, “Tangaza maneno haya yote katika miji ya Yuda na katika barabara za Yerusalemu: ‘Sikilizeni maneno ya agano hili na kuyafuata.
7 For I earnestly warned your fathers on the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt even until this day, sending out early and warning, saying, Hearken to my voice;
Tangu wakati ule niliwapandisha baba zenu kutoka Misri mpaka leo, niliwaonya tena na tena, nikisema “Nitiini mimi.”
8 Yet they hearkened not, and inclined not their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore did I bring over them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but which they did not.
Lakini hawakusikiliza wala kujali. Badala yake, walifuata ukaidi wa mioyo yao miovu. Hivyo nikaleta juu yao laana zote za agano nililokuwa nimewaamuru wao kulifuata, lakini wao hawakulishika.’”
9 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy hath been found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Kuna shauri baya linaloendelea miongoni mwa watu wa Yuda na wale wanaoishi Yerusalemu.
10 They are returned again to the iniquities of their earlier forefathers, who had refused to hearken to my words; and they themselves are [also] gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
Wamerudia dhambi za baba zao, waliokataa kusikiliza maneno yangu. Wameifuata miungu mingine kuitumikia. Nyumba zote mbili za Israeli na Yuda zimelivunja agano nililofanya na baba zao.
11 Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will bring an evil upon them, from which they shall not be able to rid themselves; and they will cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them.
Kwa hivyo, hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: ‘Nitaleta juu yao maafa ambayo hawawezi kuyakimbia. Hata kama wakinililia, sitawasikiliza.
12 Then let the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense; but they shall not save them in the least in the time of their distress.
Miji ya Yuda na watu wa Yerusalemu watakwenda kuililia miungu ambayo wameifukizia uvumba, lakini haitawasaidia kamwe wakati maafa yatakapowapiga.
13 For equal to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and equal to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the disgraceful idol, altars, to burn incense unto Ba'al.
Mnayo miungu mingi kama miji mliyo nayo, ee Yuda, nazo madhabahu mlizozijenga za kufukizia uvumba huyo mungu wa aibu Baali ni nyingi kama barabara za Yerusalemu.’
14 But thou—thou must not pray in behalf of this people, neither lift up in their behalf entreaty or prayer; for I will not hear at the time that they call unto me, because of their distress.
“Wewe usiwaombee watu hawa wala kufanya maombezi yoyote au kunisihi kwa ajili yao, kwa sababu sitawasikiliza watakaponiita wakati wa taabu yao.
15 What hath my beloved to do in my house, while she executeth the evil counsel of so many [sinners]? Yea, the holy flesh passeth away from thee; for even with thy wickedness, thou rejoicest still.
“Mpenzi wangu anafanya nini hekaluni mwangu, anapofanya mashauri yake maovu na wengi? Je, nyama iliyowekwa wakfu yaweza kuondolea mbali adhabu yako? Unapojiingiza katika ubaya wako, ndipo unashangilia.”
16 An ever-green olive-tree, beautiful in fruit and form, did the Lord call thy name: with the noise of a great tumult hath he kindled fire around it, and they break off its branches.
Bwana alikuita mti wa mzeituni uliostawi ulio na matunda mazuri kwa sura. Lakini kwa ngurumo ya mawimbi makuu atautia moto, nayo matawi yake yatavunjika.
17 And the Lord of hosts, that planted thee, hath decreed evil against thee; on account of the wickedness of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves, to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Ba'al.
Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, aliyekupanda, ametamka maafa kwa ajili yako, kwa sababu nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda mmefanya maovu na kunikasirisha kwa kumfukizia Baali uvumba.
18 And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then didst thou let me see their doings.
Kwa sababu Bwana alinifunulia hila zao mbaya, nilizifahamu, kwa kuwa wakati ule alinionyesha yale waliyokuwa wanayafanya.
19 But I was like a sheep or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying, ] “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may not be remembered any more.”
Nilikuwa kama mwana-kondoo mpole aliyeongozwa machinjoni; mimi sikutambua kwamba walikuwa wamefanya shauri baya dhidi yangu, wakisema, “Sisi na tuuangamize mti na matunda yake; nasi tumkatilie mbali kutoka nchi ya walio hai, ili jina lake lisikumbukwe tena.”
20 But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I entrusted my cause.
Lakini, Ee Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, wewe uhukumuye kwa haki, nawe uchunguzaye moyo na akili, wacha nione ukiwalipiza wao kisasi, kwa maana kwako nimeweka shauri langu.
21 Therefore thus hath said the Lord concerning the men of 'Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, “Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of the Lord, that thou mayest not die by our hand:”
“Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu watu wa Anathothi wale wanaotafuta uhai wako wakisema, ‘Usitoe unabii kwa jina la Bwana, la sivyo utakufa kwa mikono yetu’:
22 Therefore thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will inflict punishment on them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by the famine;
kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: ‘Nitawaadhibu. Vijana wao waume watakufa kwa upanga, wana wao na binti zao kwa njaa.
23 And no remnant shall remain of them; for I will bring evil upon the men of 'Anathoth, in the year of their punishment.
Hawatasaziwa hata mabaki kwao, kwa sababu nitaleta maafa kwa watu wa Anathothi katika mwaka wa adhabu yao.’”

< Jeremiah 11 >