< Jeremiah 2 >

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Okwu nke Onyenwe anyị bịakwutere m na-asị,
2 Go and call out before the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus hath said the Lord, I remember unto thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thy espousals, thy going after me in the wilderness, through a land that is not sown.
“Gaa, kwupụta na ntị Jerusalem, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “‘Echetara m ịnụ ọkụ nʼobi nke okorobịa gị nʼoge gara aga ime ihe ga-atọ m ụtọ, ịhụnanya gị dịka onye a lụrụ ọhụrụ, echetakwara m otu unu si soro m nʼime ọzara, ga nʼala tọgbọrọ nʼefu nke a na-akụghị mkpụrụ.
3 A holy thing is Israel unto the Lord, the first of his fruits: all that devour him shall incur guilt; evil shall come over them, saith the Lord.
Izrel bụ ihe dị nsọ nye Onyenwe anyị, mkpụrụ mbụ nke owuwe ihe ubi ya. Ndị niile ripịara ya ka a gụrụ dị ka ndị ikpe mara. Ihe ọjọọ dakwasịkwara ha.’” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
4 Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye families of the house of Israel.
Nụrụ okwu nke Onyenwe anyị unu ụlọ Jekọb, na unu ndị bụ agbụrụ niile sitere nʼIzrel.
5 Thus hath said the Lord, What fault did your fathers find in me, that they went away far from me, and walked after vanity, and became vain?
Ihe a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Gịnị bụ ihe ọjọọ nna unu ha chọpụtara nʼime m, mere ha ji si nʼebe m nọ kpafuo, nọrọ m ebe dị anya? Nke mere na ha ghọrọ ndị nzuzu site nʼịgbaso arụsị?
6 That they said not, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of wildness, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land through which no one had passed, and where no man had dwelt?
Ha ajụghị ‘Olee ebe Onyenwe anyị ahụ nọ, bụ onye sitere nʼala Ijipt kpọpụta anyị, duuru anyị gafee ọzara tọgbọrọ nʼefu, nʼala ọzara na ala olulu jupụtara, ala nke akpịrị ịkpọ nkụ na nke oke ọchịchịrị, ala ebe ọ dịghị onye na-esi na ya agafee na nke mmadụ na-ebighị na ya?’
7 And I brought you into the land of fruitful fields, to eat its fruit and its goodly products; but ye came and ye made unclean my land, and my heritage ye rendered an abomination.
Ọ bụ m kpọbatara unu nʼala na-amị ọtụtụ mkpụrụ, ka unu rie ihe dị ukwuu na ihe dị mma si nʼime ya. Ma unu bara merụọ ala m unu mere ihe nketa m ka ọ ghọọ ihe arụ.
8 The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied in the name of Ba'al, and after things that cannot profit did they walk.
Ndị nchụaja ajụghị sị, ‘Olee ebe Onyenwe anyị nọ?’ Ndị ikpe ha amaghị m, ndị na-achị ha mehiere megide m, ndị amụma ha bụkwa aha Baal ka ha ji ebu amụma, ha gbasooro ihe na-enweghị isi.
9 Therefore will I contend yet farther with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.
“Nʼihi ya, aga m ebulite ebubo megide unu,” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri ya. “M ga-ebulikwa ebubo megide ụmụ ụmụ unu.
10 For pass over to the isles of the Chittites, and see; and unto Kedar send, and consider well and see if any thing like this hath happened.
Gafee nʼọnụ mmiri Saiprọs lee anya, zie ozi gaa Keda ma leruo anya nke ọma, ma ị ga-ahụ ihe ọbụla yiri nke a.
11 Hath a nation exchanged its gods, which are yet no gods? and [still] my people hath exchanged its glory for that which can not profit.
O nwerela mba gbanwere chi ndị ha na-efe? (Ọ bụ ezie na ha abụghị chi.) Ma ndị m ewerela arụsị na-enweghị isi gbanwere ebube ha.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and let your hair stand at an end, be ye greatly terrified, saith the Lord.
Ka ibubo nwụọ gị, gị eluigwe nʼihi nke a, maa jijiji, tụọkwa oke ụjọ.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
13 For two evils have my people committed: me have they forsaken, the source of living waters, to hew out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
“Nʼihi na ndị m emeela ihe ọjọọ abụọ. Ha agbakụtala m azụ, bụ Isi iyi mmiri ndụ, gwuoro onwe ha ebe ichebe mmiri nke tipuru etipu na-enweghị ike ịnagide mmiri ọbụla.
14 Is Israel a servant? or one born [to servitude] in the house? why hath he been given up to plunder?
Izrel ọ bụ ohu, ka ọ bụ ohu a mụrụ nʼụlọ? Gịnị mere o ji ghọọ ihe nlụta nʼagha?
15 [That] over him young lions roared, let their voice resound, and changed his land into a waste, that his cities are burnt, left without an inhabitant?
Ọdụm agbọọla ụja, ha ebigbọọla meekwa ka ọ nụ olu ha. Ha ebibiela obodo ya laa ya nʼiyi, suo ya ọkụ, nke mere na o nweghị onye bi na ha.
16 Even the children of Noph and Thachpanches have crushed the crown of thy head.
Ọzọkwa, ndị ikom Memfis na Tapanhis a kupuola gị isi.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, through thy forsaking the Lord thy God, while he was leading thee on the [right] way?
Ọ bụghị unu onwe unu wetaara onwe unu ihe ọjọọ dị otu a site na ịhapụ Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu, mgbe ọ na-edu unu na-aga nʼụzọ?
18 And now what hast thou to do on the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shichor? and what hast thou to do on the way of Asshur, to drink the waters of the river?
Ugbu a, gịnị bụ uru unu nwetara site nʼịga Ijipt sitekwa nʼịṅụ mmiri nke osimiri Naịl? Gịnị bụ uru unu nwetara site nʼịga Asịrịa, sitekwa nʼịṅụ mmiri si na Yufretis?
19 Thy own wickedness shall chastise thee, and thy backslidings shall correct thee; and thou shalt know and see that evil and bitter was thy forsaking the Lord thy God, while the dread of me was not upon thee, saith the Lord Eternal of hosts.
Ọ bụ ajọ omume unu ga-ewetara unu ahụhụ; ahụhụ soo ndaghachi azụ unu bụ ihe ga-adọ unu aka na ntị. Tulee ma matanụ nʼonwe unu otu o si bụrụ ihe ọjọọ na ihe ilu nye unu bụ inupu isi na ịgbakụta Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu azụ na-enweghị egwu ọbụla nʼime unu banyere m,” nke a bụ ihe Chineke, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile, kwupụtara.
20 Because from yore did I break thy yoke, did I burst asunder thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress: nevertheless upon every high hill and under every green tree thou makest thy bed, as harlot.
“Nʼoge gara aga, unu gbajiri yoku unu dọkapụ agbụ jikọtara mụ na unu, unu sịrị, ‘Agaghị m ejere gị ozi.’ Nʼezie, ọ bụ nʼelu ugwu ọbụla nakwa nʼokpuru osisi na-agbasa agbasa, ka ị na-edina dịka onye akwụna.
21 Yet I had planted thee as a branch of a noble vine, wholly of the proper seed; but how art thou changed unto me into a degenerate plant of an ignoble vine?
Ma mụ onwe m kụrụ gị dịka osisi vaịnị kachasị mma nke mkpụrụ ya dị ndụ dịkwa mma. Olee otu i siri tụgharịa megide m, ghọọ ihe rụrụ arụ, osisi vaịnị ọhịa?
22 For though thou wash thyself with natron, and take for thyself much soap: yet would the stain of thy iniquity remain before me, saith the Lord Eternal.
Nʼagbanyeghị na iji ncha sachaa onwe gị, maọbụ jirikwa ọtụtụ ntụ ncha, ntụpọ nke mmehie gị ka dị nʼihu m,” Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
23 How canst thou say, I am not become unclean, after the Be'alim have I not gone? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [like] a swift dromedary bound fast to her ways;
“Ị ga-esi aṅaa na-asị, ‘A bụghị m onye e merụrụ emerụ; o nwebeghị oge ọbụla m ji gbaso Baal?’ Leruo ụzọ gị anya na ndagwurugwu, tulee ihe ndị i mere. Ị bụ nne ịnyịnya ibu dị nkọ, na-agbagharị ebe a nʼebe nke ọzọ.
24 [Like] a wild ass used to the wilderness, that at her pleasure snuffeth up the wind; her lust—who can turn this away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month will they find her.
Nne ịnyịnya ibu ọhịa nke mara ụzọ ya nke ọma nʼọzara, na-esi imi ma ọ ga-esichapụta oke ịnyịnya ibu, onye pụrụ igbochi ya nʼoge mmekọ ya na oke ịnyịnya zuru? Oke ịnyịnya ọbụla chọọrọ ya agaghị atụfu oge nʼịchụgharị ya, nʼihi nʼoge ha chọrọ mmekọ, ha ga-achọta ya.
25 “Prevent thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from being thirsty;” but thou saidst, It is useless; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
Agbala ọsọ ruo mgbe ị ga-agbara ụkwụ efu, mgbe akpịrị ga-akpọ gị nku. Ma ị na-asị, ‘O nweghị uru ọ bara. Nʼihi na ahụrụ m chi ndị mba ọzọ nʼanya, aghaghị m ịgbaso ha.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so have the house of Israel been made ashamed, they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
“Dịka a na-eme onye ohi ihe ihere mgbe e jidere ya, otu a ka a ga-eme ụlọ Izrel ihere, ha onwe ha, ma ndị eze ha, ma ndịisi ha, ndị nchụaja ha na ndị amụma ha.
27 Who say to the wood, Thou art my father; and to the stone, Thou hast brought us forth; for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their misfortune will they say, Arise, and save us.
Ha na-asị osisi, ‘Nna m ka ị bụ,’ na-asịkwa nkume, ‘Ọ bụ gị mụrụ m.’ Ha agbakụtala m azụ, jụ iche m ihu. Ma mgbe ọbụla nsogbu bịakwasịrị ha, ha na-asị, ‘Bịa, zọpụta anyị.’
28 But where are then thy gods that thou hast made for thyself? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy misfortune; for equal to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah.
Olee ebe chi ndị ahụ i meere nye onwe gị nọ? Ka ha bịa, ma ọ bụrụ na ha nwere ike ịzọpụta gị, mgbe nsogbu bịakwasịrị unu. Nʼihi na gị, bụ Juda, nwere ọtụtụ chi dịka i si nwee ọtụtụ obodo.
29 Wherefore will ye contend with me? all of you have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.
“Gịnị mere unu ji ekwu okwu ebubo megide m? Unu niile enupula isi megide m,” ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
30 To no purpose have I smitten your children; correction they accepted not: your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
“Nʼefu ka m tiri ụmụ unu ihe; ma nke a emeghị ka ha nabata ịdọ aka na ntị. Dịka ọdụm na-adọgbu anụ, mma agha unu eripịala ndị amụma unu.
31 O [present] generation, regard ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of deep darkness? wherefore say my people, We wander about; we cannot come any more unto thee?
“Unu ndị ọgbọ a, tuleenụ okwu nke Onyenwe anyị: “O nweela mgbe m bụ ọzara nye ndị Izrel ma ọ bụkwanụ ala gbara oke ọchịchịrị? Gịnị mekwaranụ ndị m ji na-asị, ‘Anyị enwerela onwe anyị ịwagharị, anyị agaghị abịakwutekwa gị ọzọ’?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her decorations? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Nwaagbọghọ ọ na-echefu ọla ịchọ mma ya, nwanyị a na-alụ ọhụrụ ọ na-echefu ngwa ịchọ mma ya? Ma nʼime ọtụtụ ụbọchị nke a na-apụghị ịgụta ọnụ, ndị m echefuola m.
33 Why ornamentest thou thy way to seek for love? truly even the worst hast thou used thyself as thy ways.
Lee ka unu si bụrụ ndị ọka nʼịgbaso ịhụnanya. Ọ bụladị ụmụ nwanyị dị njọ karịsịa nwere ike ịmụta ihe site nʼụzọ unu.
34 Also on thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent needy ones: not while breaking in [thy house] didst thou find them; but for all these things.
Nʼuwe unu ka achọtara ọbara ndị ogbenye na-enweghị ihe ọjọọ ha mere, nʼagbanyeghị na unu ejideghị ha ka ha nʼagbaka ụzọ. Ma unu gara nʼihu
35 Yet thou sayest, Yea, I am innocent, surely his anger is already turned away from me. Behold, I will hold judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
na-asịkwa, ‘Emeghị m ihe ọjọọ, ọ dịghị eweso m iwe.’ Ma aga m ekpe unu ikpe, nʼihi na unu na-asị, ‘Emeghị m mmehie.’
36 Why makest thou thyself so very low to change thy way? also because of Egypt shalt thou be made ashamed, as thou wast put to shame because of Assyria.
Gịnị mere unu ji na-akpagharị na-agbanwe ụzọ unu ọtụtụ mgbe? Ijipt ga-etinye unu nʼọnọdụ ihere dịka ndị Asịrịa mere unu.
37 Also from this one shalt thou go forth, with thy hands [clasped] over thy head; for the Lord hath rejected those on whom thou trustest and thou shalt not prosper with them.
Unu ga-ebu aka unu nʼisi mgbe unu si ebe ahụ na-apụ, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ajụla ndị ahụ unu tụkwasịrị obi. Ha agaghị enyere unu aka.

< Jeremiah 2 >