Jeremiah 2
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Neno la BWANA lilinijia likisema,
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.
“Nenda ukanene katika masikio ya Yerusalemu. Useme; BWANA asema hivi: Ninakumbuka agano la uaminifu la ujana wako, upendo wako wakati tulipokuwa tumechumbiana, ulipokuwa ukinihitaji kule jangwani, katika ile nchi iliyokuwa haijapandwa.
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.
Israeli alikuwa ametengwa kwa BWANA, malimbuko yake ya mavuno yake! Wote waliokula malimbuko yake walikuwa na hatia! majanga yaliwajia—asema BWANA.'”
4 Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye families of the house of Israel.
Sikilizeni neno la BWANA, enyi nyumba ya Yakobo na kila familia katika nyumba ya Israeli.
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?
BWANA anasema hivi, “Ni makosa gani ambayo baba zenu waliyaona kwangu, hata wakatae kunifuata mimi? hata wazifuate sanamu ambazo hazina chochote na wao kuwa si kitu?
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?
Wala hawakusema, BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alitutoa katika nchi ya Misri? BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alituongoza katika jangwa, katika nchi ya Araba na mashimo, katika nchi ya ukame na giza nene, katika nchi ambayo hakuna mtu apitaye wala hakuna mtu anayeishi humo?
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.
Lakini nilwaleta katika nchi ya Kameli, ili mle matunda yake na vitu vingine vyema! Lakini mlipokuja, mliitia unajisi nchi yangu, mliufany urithi wangu kuwa chukizo!
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.
Hata makuhani hawakusema, 'BWANA yuko wapi?' na watalamu wa sheria hawakunijali mimi! wachungaji wametenda dhambi dhidi yangu. Manabii wamemtolea Baali unabii na kuvitafuta vitu ambvyo havina faida.
9 Therefore will I contend yet farther with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.
Kwa hiyo nitaendelea kuwashitaki - hili ni neno la BWANA - na nitawashitiki watoto wa watoto wenu.
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.
Kwa kuvuka kwenda hadi pwani ya Kitimu na kutazama. Tuma wajumbe kwenda Kedari na tafuta uone kama kama iliwahi kutokea hapo awali vitu kama hivi.
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.
Je, taifa limebadilisha miungu, hata kama haikuwa miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa kitu ambacho hakiwezi kuwasaidia.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and let your hair stand at an end, be ye greatly terrified, saith the Lord.
Sitajabuni, enyi mbingu kwa sababu ya hili! Tetemekeni na kuogopa -asema BWANA.
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.
Kwa kuwa watu wangu wametenda maovu mawili dhidi yangu: Wameziacha chemichemi za maji ya uhai kwa kuchimba mabarika kwa ajili yao, mabarika yanayovuja yasiyoweza kutunza maji!
14 Is Israel a servant? or one born [to servitude] in the house? why hath he been given up to plunder?
Je, Israeli ni mtumwa? Kwani hakuzaliwa nyumbani? Kwa nini sasa amekuwa nyara?
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?
Wanasimba wameunguruma dhidi yake. Wamepiga kelele sana na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa. Miji yake imeharibiwa na kubaki bila watu.
16 Even the children of Noph and Thachpanches have crushed the crown of thy head.
Pia watu wa Nufu na Tahapanesi watakinyoa kichwa chako.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, through thy forsaking the Lord thy God, while he was leading thee on the [right] way?
Je, hamkufanya haya kwa ajili yenu mlipomwacha BWANA, wakati Mungu wenu, alipokuwa akiwaongoza njiani?
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?
Kwa hiyo, kwa nini kutafuta msaada Misri na kunywa maji ya Shihori? Kwa nini kutafuta msaada Ashuru na kunywa maji ya Mto Frati?
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.
Uovu wako unakukemea, na maasi yako yatakuadhibu. Kwa hiyo yafikiri hayo; tambua kuwa ni uovu na uchungu kwenu ninyi kuniacha mimi, BWANA Mungu wako, na kutokuwa na hofu yangu - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
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.
Kwa kuwa niliivunja nira yenu mliyokuwa nayo wakati wa kale; Nilivichana vifungo vyako kutoka kwako. Lakini bado ulisema, 'Sitamtumikia!' tangu ulipopiga magoti katika kila kilima kuusogelea kila mti wenye majani mabichhi, enyi makahaba.
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?
Lakini mimi mwenyewe niliwapanda kama mzabibu niliouchagua, mbegu iliyokamilika. Lakini tazama jinsi ulivyobadilika mbele yangu, na kuwa mzabibu usiofaa na mzabibu pori!
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.
Kwa kuwa hata kama utajisafisha mwenyewe mtoni na kuoga kwa sabuni kali, bado dhambi yako ni madoa mbele yangu - asema BWANA Mungu.
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;
Wawezaje kusema, 'Mimi sijanajisika! Mimi sjaenda kwa Mabaal?' Tazama tabia zako zilivyokuwa bondeni! Tambua kile ulichofanya, wewe ngamia mwepesi! akimbiaye katika njia yake!
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.
Wewe ni punda wa mwitu, aliyeizoelea nyika, avutaye pumzi za upepo usiofaa katika tamaa ya kuishi! Ni nani awezaye kumgeuza anapotafuta dume la kumpanda? Na punda dume amtafutaye hajichoshi mwenyewe. Huenda kwake wakati wa mwezi wa kupandwa.
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.
Lazima uizuie miguu yako isikose kiatu na koo lako kuwa na kiu! Lakini umesema, 'Hakuna matumaini! Hapana! Nawapenda wageni nami huwatafuta!'
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,
Kama aibu ya mwizi ilivyo anapokuwa amekamatwa, ndivyo aibu ya Israeli itakavyokuwa - wao, wafalme wao, malikia wao, makuhani na manabii wao!
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.
Hawa ndio wale waiambiayo miti, 'Ninyi ndio baba zangu,' na mawe, 'Ninyi ndio mlinizaa.' Kwa kuwa migongo yao hunitazama na siyo nyuso zao. Hata hivyo, wakati wa shida husema, 'Amka utuokoe!'
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.
Lakini iko wapi ile miungu mliyojitengenezea? Acha hao wainuke kama wanaweza kuwaokoa wakati wa shida, kwa kuwa hizo sanamu zenu zina idadi sawa na miji yenu, katika Yuda.
29 Wherefore will ye contend with me? all of you have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.
Kwa hiyo kwa nini kunituhumu kwa kufanya makosa? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
30 To no purpose have I smitten your children; correction they accepted not: your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Nimewadhibu watu wenu bure. Wala hawakutaka kurudiwa. Upanga wako umewaangamiza manabii wenu kama kama simba aangamizaye!
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?
Enyi watu wa kizazi hiki! Sikilizeni neno langu, neno la BWANA! Je, nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli? Au nchi yenye giza nene? Kwa nini watu wangu husema, 'Acha tuzungukezunguke, hatutakuja kwako tena'?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her decorations? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Je, mwanamwali anaweza kusahau mapambo yake, na bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wngu wamenisahau mimi kwa siku nyingi!
33 Why ornamentest thou thy way to seek for love? truly even the worst hast thou used thyself as thy ways.
Jinsi mlivyotengeneza njia zenu vizuri ili kutafuta mapenzi. Hata mmewafundisha njia zenu wanawake waovu.
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.
Damu ambayo ilikuwa ndio uhai wa watu wasio na hatia, imeonekana katika mavazi yenu. Hawa watu hawajawahi kuonekana katika matendo maovu.
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.
Pamoja na mambo haya yote, wewe unaeendelea kusema kuwa hauna hatia. Kwa hakika hasira ya BWANA itageuka kutoka kwangu. 'Lakini tazama! Utahukumiwa kwa sababu, 'Sikutenda dhambi.'
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.
Kwa nini mnatangatanga kwa urahisi katika njia zenu? Pia Misri itawahuzunisha sana, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ashuru.
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.
Mtaondoka hapo mkiwa mmehuzunika sana, mkiwa mmeweka mikono vichwani mwenu, kwa kuwa BWANA amemkutaa yule mliyemtumainia, kwa hiyo hamtapata msaada toka kwao,”
