Jeremiah 31
1 "At that time," says the LORD, "will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people."
“Wakati huo, nitakuwa Mungu wa koo zote za Israeli nao watakuwa watu wangu,” asema Bwana.
2 Thus says the LORD, "The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Watu watakaopona upanga watapata upendeleo jangwani; nitakuja niwape Israeli pumziko.”
3 The LORD appeared to him from afar. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.
Bwana alitutokea wakati uliopita, akisema: “Nimekupenda kwa upendo wa milele, nimekuvuta kwa wema.
4 Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: again you shall be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.
Nitakujenga tena nawe utajengeka upya, ewe Bikira Israeli. Utachukua tena matari yako na kwenda kucheza na wenye furaha.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy its fruit.
Utapanda tena shamba la mizabibu juu ya vilima vya Samaria, wakulima watapanda na kufurahia matunda yake.
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim shall cry, "Arise, and let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God."'"
Itakuja siku wakati walinzi watakapowapigia kelele juu ya vilima vya Efraimu wakisema, ‘Njooni, twendeni juu Sayuni, kwake Bwana Mungu wetu.’”
7 For thus says the LORD, "Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, 'For the LORD has saved your people, the remnant of Israel.'
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Mwimbieni Yakobo kwa furaha, mpigieni kelele aliye mkuu wa mataifa. Zifanyeni sifa zenu zisikike, nanyi mseme, ‘Ee Bwana, okoa watu wako, mabaki ya Israeli.’
8 'Look, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together: a great company shall they return here.
Tazama, nitawaleta kutoka nchi ya kaskazini na kuwakusanya kutoka miisho ya dunia. Miongoni mwao watakuwepo vipofu na viwete, mama wajawazito na wenye utungu wa kuzaa. Umati mkubwa wa watu utarudi.
9 They shall come with weeping; and with petitions will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.'"
Watakuja wakilia; wataomba wakati ninawarudisha. Nitawaongoza kando ya vijito vya maji katika mapito yaliyo tambarare ambapo hawatajikwaa, kwa sababu mimi ndimi baba wa Israeli, naye Efraimu ni mzaliwa wangu wa kwanza.
10 Hear the word of the LORD, you nations, and declare it in the islands afar off; and say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd does his flock."
“Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi mataifa, litangazeni katika nchi za pwani ya mbali: ‘Yeye aliyewatawanya Israeli atawakusanya na atalichunga kundi lake la kondoo kama mchungaji.’
11 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
Kwa kuwa Bwana atamlipia fidia Yakobo na kuwakomboa mkononi mwa walio na nguvu kuliko wao.
12 They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and they shall be radient over the goodness of the LORD, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Watakuja na kupiga kelele kwa furaha katika miinuko ya Sayuni; watashangilia ukarimu wa Bwana: nafaka, divai mpya na mafuta, wana-kondoo wachanga na ndama wa makundi ya ngʼombe nitakaowapa. Watakuwa kama bustani iliyonyeshewa vizuri, wala hawatahuzunika tena.
13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Kisha wanawali watacheza na kufurahi, vijana waume na wazee pia. Nitageuza maombolezo yao kuwa furaha, nitawapa faraja na furaha badala ya huzuni.
14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness," says the LORD.
Nitawashibisha makuhani kwa wingi, nao watu wangu watajazwa kwa ukarimu wangu,” asema Bwana.
15 Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping and great bitterness, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Sauti imesikika huko Rama, maombolezo na kilio kikubwa, Raheli akiwalilia watoto wake na anakataa kufarijiwa, kwa sababu watoto wake hawako tena.”
16 Thus says the LORD: "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded," says the LORD; "and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Izuie sauti yako kulia, na macho yako yasitoe machozi, kwa kuwa kazi yako itapata thawabu,” asema Bwana. “Watarudi kutoka nchi ya adui.
17 There is hope for your latter end," says the LORD; "and your children shall come again to their own border.
Kwa hiyo kuna tumaini kwa siku zijazo,” asema Bwana. “Watoto wako watarudi nchi yao yenyewe.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
“Hakika nimeyasikia maombolezo ya Efraimu: ‘Ulinirudi kama ndama mkaidi, nami nimekubali kutii. Unirudishe, nami nitarudi, kwa sababu wewe ndiwe Bwana, Mungu wangu.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I struck on my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.'
Baada ya kupotea, nilitubu; baada ya kuelewa, nilijipiga kifua. Niliaibika na kuona haya kwa sababu niliibeba aibu ya ujana wangu.’
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him," says the LORD.
Je, Efraimu si mwanangu mpendwa, mtoto ninayependezwa naye? Ingawa mara kwa mara ninanena dhidi yake, bado ninamkumbuka. Kwa hiyo moyo wangu unamwonea shauku, nina huruma kubwa kwa ajili yake,” asema Bwana.
21 "Set up road signs, make guideposts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities.
“Weka alama za barabara, weka vibao vya kuelekeza. Zingatia vyema njia kuu, barabara ile unayoipita. Rudi, ee Bikira Israeli, rudi kwenye miji yako.
22 How long will you go here and there, you backsliding daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall encompass a man."
Utatangatanga hata lini, ee binti usiye mwaminifu? Bwana ameumba kitu kipya duniani: mwanamke atamlinda mwanaume.”
23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captivity: 'The LORD bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.'
Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo, “Nitakapowarudisha toka nchi ya kutekwa kwenu, watu walio katika nchi ya Yuda na miji yake kwa mara nyingine tena watatumia maneno haya: ‘Bwana akubariki, ee makao ya haki, ee mlima mtakatifu.’
24 Judah and all its cities shall dwell in it together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks.
Watu wataishi pamoja katika Yuda na miji yake yote, wakulima na wote wanaohamahama na mifugo yao.
25 For I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have filled every sorrowful soul."
Nitawaburudisha waliochoka na kuwatuliza walio na huzuni.”
26 On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me.
Kwa jambo hili niliamka na kuangalia pande zote. Usingizi wangu ulikuwa mtamu kwangu.
27 "Look, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of animal.
Bwana asema, “Siku zinakuja, nitakapoongeza idadi ya watu, na kuzidisha hesabu ya mifugo katika nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda.
28 It shall happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant," says the LORD.
Kama vile nilivyowaangalia ili kungʼoa na kubomoa, kuharibu, kuangamiza na kuleta maafa juu yao, vivyo hivyo nitawaangalia ili kujenga na kupanda,” asema Bwana.
29 "In those days they shall say no more, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
“Katika siku hizo, watu hawatasema tena, “‘Baba wamekula zabibu chachu, nayo meno ya watoto yakatiwa ganzi.’
30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity: every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Badala yake, kila mmoja atakufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe; yeyote alaye zabibu chachu, meno yake mwenyewe yatatiwa ganzi.
31 Look, the days come," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
“Siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “nitakapofanya agano jipya na nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda.
32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, and I disregarded them," says the LORD.
Halitafanana na agano nililofanya na baba zao wakati nilipowashika mkono kuwaongoza watoke Misri, kwa sababu walivunja agano langu, ijapokuwa nilikuwa mume kwao,” asema Bwana.
33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the LORD: "I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:
“Hili ndilo agano nitakalofanya na nyumba ya Israeli baada ya siku zile,” asema Bwana. “Nitaweka sheria yangu katika nia zao, na kuiandika mioyoni mwao. Nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu.
34 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD'; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sins I will remember no more."
Mtu hatamfundisha tena jirani yake, wala mtu kumfundisha ndugu yake akisema, ‘Mjue Bwana Mungu,’ kwa sababu wote watanijua mimi, tangu aliye mdogo kabisa kwao, hadi aliye mkuu sana,” asema Bwana. “Kwa sababu nitasamehe uovu wao, wala sitazikumbuka dhambi zao tena.”
35 Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; the LORD of hosts is his name:
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyeweka jua liwake mchana, yeye anayeamuru mwezi na nyota kungʼaa usiku, yeye aichafuaye bahari ili mawimbi yake yangurume; Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake:
36 "If this fixed order departs from before me," says the LORD, "then the descendants of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever."
“Ikiwa amri hizi zitaondoka machoni pangu,” asema Bwana, “ndipo wazao wa Israeli watakoma kuwa taifa mbele yangu daima.”
37 Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the descendants of Israel for all that they have done," says the LORD.
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Ikiwa mbingu zilizo juu zitaweza kupimika na misingi ya dunia chini ikaweza kuchunguzwa, ndipo nitakapowakataa wazao wote wa Israeli kwa sababu ya yote waliyoyatenda,” asema Bwana.
38 "Look, the days come," says the LORD, "that the city shall be built to the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
“Siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “wakati mji huu utajengwa upya kwa ajili yangu, kuanzia mnara wa Hananeli hadi Lango la Pembeni.
39 The measuring line shall go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and shall turn about to Goah.
Kamba ya kupimia itaanzia hapo kuendelea hadi kwenye kilima cha Garebu, na kisha kugeuka kuelekea Goa.
40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever."
Bonde lote watupwapo maiti na majivu pia na matuta yote kutoka Bonde la Kidroni upande wa mashariki hadi pembe ya Lango la Farasi, itakuwa takatifu kwa Bwana. Kamwe mji huu hautangʼolewa tena wala kubomolewa.”
