Jeremiah 2
1 And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying,
Neno la BWANA lilinijia likisema,
2 “Go, and you have called in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus said YHWH: I have remembered for you The kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, Your going after Me in a wilderness, in a land 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 Israel [is] holy to YHWH, The first-fruit of His increase, All consuming him are guilty, Calamity comes to them,” A declaration of YHWH.
Israeli alikuwa ametengwa kwa BWANA, malimbuko yake ya mavuno yake! Wote waliokula malimbuko yake walikuwa na hatia! majanga yaliwajia—asema BWANA.'”
4 Hear a word of YHWH, O house of Jacob, And all you families of the house of Israel—
Sikilizeni neno la BWANA, enyi nyumba ya Yakobo na kila familia katika nyumba ya Israeli.
5 Thus said YHWH: “What perversity have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far off from Me, And go after vanity, and become 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 And have not said, Where [is] YHWH, Who brings us up out of the land of Egypt, Who leads us in a wilderness, In a land of deserts and pits, In a dry land, and of death-shade, In a land that none has passed through, Nor has man dwelt there?
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 Indeed, I bring you into a land of fruitful fields, To eat its fruit and its goodness, And you come in and defile My land, And have made My inheritance 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 have not said, Where [is] YHWH? And those handling the Law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Ba‘al, And have gone after those who do not profit.
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, I yet plead with you,” A declaration of YHWH, “And I plead with your sons’ sons.
Kwa hiyo nitaendelea kuwashitaki - hili ni neno la BWANA - na nitawashitiki watoto wa watoto wenu.
10 For pass to the islands of Chittim and see, And send to Kedar and consider well, And see if there has been [anything] like this:
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 Has a nation changed gods? (And they [are] no gods!) And My people has changed its glory For that which does not profit.
Je, taifa limebadilisha miungu, hata kama haikuwa miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa kitu ambacho hakiwezi kuwasaidia.
12 Be astonished, you heavens, at this, Indeed, be frightened, be greatly desolated,” A declaration of YHWH.
Sitajabuni, enyi mbingu kwa sababu ya hili! Tetemekeni na kuogopa -asema BWANA.
13 “For My people have done two evils, They have forsaken Me, a fountain of living waters, To hew out for themselves wells—broken wells, That do not contain the waters.
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? Is he a child of the house? Why has he been for a prey?
Je, Israeli ni mtumwa? Kwani hakuzaliwa nyumbani? Kwa nini sasa amekuwa nyara?
15 Young lions roar against him, They have given forth their voice, And make his land become a desolation, His cities have been burned without inhabitant.
Wanasimba wameunguruma dhidi yake. Wamepiga kelele sana na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa. Miji yake imeharibiwa na kubaki bila watu.
16 Also sons of Noph and Tahapanes Consume you—the crown of the head!
Pia watu wa Nufu na Tahapanesi watakinyoa kichwa chako.
17 Do you not do this to yourself? [By] your forsaking your God YHWH, At the time He is leading you in the way?
Je, hamkufanya haya kwa ajili yenu mlipomwacha BWANA, wakati Mungu wenu, alipokuwa akiwaongoza njiani?
18 And now, why do you [go] in the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? And why do you [go] in 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 Your wickedness instructs you, And your backslidings reprove you, Know and see that an evil and a bitter thing [is] your forsaking your God YHWH, And My fear not being on you,” A declaration of Lord YHWH 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 “For from of old you have broken your yoke, Drawn away your bands, and say, I do not serve, For on every high height, and under every green tree, You are wandering—a 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 And I planted you [as] a choice vine, wholly of true seed, And how have you been turned Into the degenerate shoots of a strange vine to Me?
Lakini mimi mwenyewe niliwapanda kama mzabibu niliouchagua, mbegu iliyokamilika. Lakini tazama jinsi ulivyobadilika mbele yangu, na kuwa mzabibu usiofaa na mzabibu pori!
22 But though you wash with natron, And multiply soap to yourself, Your iniquity is marked before Me,” A declaration of Lord YHWH.
Kwa kuwa hata kama utajisafisha mwenyewe mtoni na kuoga kwa sabuni kali, bado dhambi yako ni madoa mbele yangu - asema BWANA Mungu.
23 “How can you say, I have not been defiled, I have not gone after the Ba‘alim? See your way in a valley, know what you have done, A swift dromedary winding 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 A wild donkey accustomed to a wilderness, She has swallowed up wind in the desire of her soul, Her meeting—who turns her back? None seeking her weary themselves, In her month 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 Withhold your foot from being unshod, And your throat from thirst, And you say, It is incurable, No, for I have loved strangers, and I go after them.
Lazima uizuie miguu yako isikose kiatu na koo lako kuwa na kiu! Lakini umesema, 'Hakuna matumaini! Hapana! Nawapenda wageni nami huwatafuta!'
26 As the shame of a thief when he is found, So has the house of Israel been put to shame, They, their kings, their heads, 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 Saying to wood, You [are] my father! And to a stone, You have brought me forth, For they turned to me the back and not the face, And in the time of their distress, 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 And where [are] your gods, that you have made to yourself? Let them arise, if they may save you, In the time of your distress, For—the number of your cities have been your 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 Why do you strive with Me? All of you have transgressed against Me,” A declaration of YHWH.
Kwa hiyo kwa nini kunituhumu kwa kufanya makosa? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
30 “I have struck your sons in vain, They have not accepted instruction, Your sword has devoured your prophets, As a destroying lion.
Nimewadhibu watu wenu bure. Wala hawakutaka kurudiwa. Upanga wako umewaangamiza manabii wenu kama kama simba aangamizaye!
31 O generation, see the word of YHWH: Have I been a wilderness to Israel? A land of thick darkness? Why have My people said, We wandered freely, We do not come to You again.
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 Does a virgin forget her ornaments? A bride her bands? And My people have forgotten Me [for] days without number.
Je, mwanamwali anaweza kusahau mapambo yake, na bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wngu wamenisahau mimi kwa siku nyingi!
33 Why do you make your ways pleasing to seek love? Therefore you have even taught the wicked your ways.
Jinsi mlivyotengeneza njia zenu vizuri ili kutafuta mapenzi. Hata mmewafundisha njia zenu wanawake waovu.
34 Also the blood of innocent needy souls Has been found on your skirts, I have not found them by digging, But on all these.
Damu ambayo ilikuwa ndio uhai wa watu wasio na hatia, imeonekana katika mavazi yenu. Hawa watu hawajawahi kuonekana katika matendo maovu.
35 And you say, Because I have been innocent, Surely His anger has turned back from me? Behold, I have been judged with you, Because of your saying, 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 What? You are very vile to repeat your way, You are even ashamed of Egypt, As you have been ashamed of Asshur,
Kwa nini mnatangatanga kwa urahisi katika njia zenu? Pia Misri itawahuzunisha sana, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ashuru.
37 Also you go out from this, And your hands on your head, For YHWH has kicked at your confidences, And you do not give prosperity to them!”
Mtaondoka hapo mkiwa mmehuzunika sana, mkiwa mmeweka mikono vichwani mwenu, kwa kuwa BWANA amemkutaa yule mliyemtumainia, kwa hiyo hamtapata msaada toka kwao,”
