< Jeremiah 2 >

1 The word of Jehovah came to me, saying:
Ekigambo kya Mukama Katonda ne kinzijira nga kigamba nti,
2 Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, Thus saith Jehovah: I remember the kindness shown thee in thy youth, The love with which I espoused thee, When thou wast led by me through the wilderness, Through a land that was not sown.
“Genda olangirire nga Yerusaalemi ewulira nti: “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, “‘Nzijukira okwewaayo kwe weewaayo ng’okyali muto, engeri gye wanjagalamu nga twakafumbiriganwa, wangoberera mu ddungu mu nsi etali nnime.
3 Israel was a sacred thing to Jehovah, His first ripe fruit. All that devoured him were held guilty; Evil came upon them, saith Jehovah.
Isirayiri wali mutukuvu wa Mukama, ebibala ebibereberye ebyamakungula ge; bonna abaakulyangako nga bazzizza omusango, akabi nga kabatuukako,’” bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
4 Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, And all the families of the house of Israel!
Muwulirize ekigambo kya Mukama mwe ezzadde lya Yakobo, era n’ab’enju zonna ez’ebika eby’omu Isirayiri.
5 Thus saith Jehovah: What fault did your fathers find in me, That they went far from me, And walked after vanity, and practised folly?
Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, Kibi ki bakitammwe kye bansangamu ne banvaako ne bagenda ewala ennyo bwe batyo? Baagoberera ebifaananyi bya bakatonda abakole n’emikono ebitaliimu nabo bennyini ne bafuuka ebitaliimu.
6 They said not, Where is Jehovah, Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and deathlike gloom, Through a land which no man passed through, And where no man dwelt?
Ne batagamba nako nti; “Ali ludda wa Mukama eyatuggya mu nsi y’e Misiri; eyatuyisa mu lukoola, mu nsi ey’amalungu n’obunnya, mu nsi enkalu n’ekisiikirize eky’okufa, mu nsi omutali muntu n’omu, so n’omuntu yenna mw’atayinza kuyita?”
7 I brought you to a land of fruitful fields, To eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof; But when ye had come in, ye defiled my land, And made my inheritance an abomination.
Ne mbaleeta mu nsi engimu, mulye ebibala byamu n’ebintu ebirungi. Naye bwe mwajja ne mwonoona ensi yange, ne mufuula omugabo gwange ekivume.
8 The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? And the teachers of the law knew me not; The rulers also rebelled against me; The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal, And walked after things that could not profit.
Bakabona ne batabuuzaako nti, “Mukama ali ludda wa?” Abo abakola ku mateeka tebammanya. Abakulembeze ne banjeemera. Bannabbi nga baweereza ku lwa Baali, ne bagoberera ebitagasa.
9 Therefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah; Yea, with your children's children will I contend.
“Kyenva nnyongera okubalumiriza,” bw’ayogera Mukama, “Era ndirumiriza n’abaana b’abaana bammwe.
10 For pass over to the islands of the Chittaeans, and see; Send ye to Kedar, and inform yourselves well; And see if such a thing hath been done!
Muwunguke ennyanja mugende ku bizinga bya Kittimu mulabe; era mutume e Kedali, mwetegereze. Mujja kulaba nga tekibangawo.
11 Hath any nation changed their gods, even those that are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which cannot profit.
Waali wabaddewo eggwanga erikyusa bakatonda baalyo, wadde nga si bakatonda, naye nga bitaliimu? Naye abantu bange baawaanyisa ekitiibwa kyabwe n’ebitagasa.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this! Shudder, and be amazed! saith Jehovah.
Wewuunye ggwe eggulu, era okankane n’entiisa ey’amaanyi,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
13 For my people have committed two evils; Me have they forsaken, the fountain of living water, And they have hewn out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
“Kubanga abantu bange bakoze ebibi bibiri, banvuddeko nze ensulo ey’amazzi amalamu ne beesimira ettanka ez’omu ttaka, ettanka ez’omu ttaka ezirimu enjatika ezitanyweeramu mazzi.”
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he a home-born servant? Why then hath he become a spoil?
“Isirayiri muddu, omuddu omuzaale? Kale lwaki afuuse omuyiggo?
15 The young lions roar over him; They lift up their voice; They have made his land a desolation; His cities are burned so as to be without an inhabitant.
Bamuwulugumirako ng’empologoma bw’ewuluguma, abalabe bawulugumye nnyo. Ensi ye efuuse matongo, ebibuga bye bigyiridde ddala omuliro birekeddwa ttayo, nga temukyali muntu n’omu.
16 Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have consumed the crown of thy head.
Ate era abasajja b’e Noofu n’e Tapeneesi bamaliddewo ddala ekitiibwa kyo.
17 Hath not this come upon thee, Because thou didst forsake Jehovah thy God, When he would have led thee in the way?
Si ggwe weeretedde bino ng’ova ku Mukama Katonda wo, eyakukulemberanga akulage ekkubo?
18 And now what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Kaakano olowooza onooganyulwamu ki okugenda okukolagana ne Misiri? Olowooza kiki ky’onoganyulwa bw’onogenda okukolagana ne Bwasuli?
19 Thy wickedness shall chasten thee, And thy transgressions reprove thee; And thou shalt know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, And that the fear of me is not with thee, Saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
Ebibi byo byennyini bye biri kubonereza, n’okudda kwo emabega kwe kulikusalira omusango. Kale lowooza era otegeere nga bwe kiri ekibi era eky’omutawaana gy’oli bw’ova ku Mukama Katonda wo, n’oba nga tokyantya,” bw’ayogera Mukama, Katonda ow’eggye.
20 Of old hast thou broken thy yoke, And burst thy bands, And said, “I will not be in subjection!” For upon every high hill, And under every green tree, Hast thou reclined, playing the harlot.
Mukama ow’eggye agamba nti, “Isirayiri, ebbanga ddene eriyiseewo bukya weggya mu buyinza bwange, n’ogamba nti, ‘Sijja kukugondera.’ Era ddala, ku buli kasozi era na buli wansi w’omuti oguyimiridde wakuba obwamalaaya ng’ovuunamira bakatonda abalala.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, Wholly a genuine seed; How then art thou changed to the degenerate shoot of a strange vine?
Songa nnali nkusimbye ng’oli muzabbibu omulungi, ensigo eteriimu kikyamu n’akatono, naye ate lwaki oyonoonese n’ofuuka ng’omuzabbibu ogw’omu nsiko?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity black before me, saith Jehovah.
Kubanga ne bw’onaaba n’oluvu n’okozesa ne sabbuuni omungi, naye era ebbala lyo n’obutali butuukirivu bwo bisigala bikyalabika,” bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
23 How canst thou say, “I am not polluted,” “I have not gone after Baals”? Behold thy way in the valley! Know what thou hast done, A swift young camel, traversing her ways.
Oyinza otya okugamba nti, “Sseeyonoonanga, sigobereranga ba Baali?” Jjukira bwe weeyisa ng’oli mu kiwonvu; tegeera kye wakola. Oli ng’eŋŋamira enkazi efuumuuka embiro ngeraga eno n’eri,
24 A wild ass, used to the wilderness, That in her desire snuffeth up the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her aside? All that seek her do not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.
ng’endogoyi ey’omu nsiko eddukira mu ddungu mw’emanyidde, ng’ewunyiriza mu bbanga eno n’eri mu kwaka kwayo, mu kiseera ekyo ani ayinza okugiziyiza? Ensajja zonna ezigyetaaga tezeetaaga kwekooya; mu biseera by’okulabaganiramu za kugifuna.
25 Withhold thy feet from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou sayest, There is no remedy! No! For I love strangers, And after them I will go.
Tokooya bigere byo, era tokaza mimiro gyo. Naye n’oddamu nti, “Ebyo bya bwereere, sisobola kukyuka, nayagala bakatonda abalala, nteekwa okubanoonya.”
26 As a thief is ashamed when he is taken, So is the house of Israel ashamed, They, their kings, and their princes, And their priests, and their prophets;
Ng’omubbi bw’aswala ng’akwatiddwa, n’ennyumba ya Isirayiri bw’eswala bw’etyo, bakabaka baayo, n’abalangira baayo, ne bakabona baayo, era ne bannabbi baayo,
27 That say to a stock, Thou art my father, And to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth! For they turn the back to me, and not the face. Yet in the time of their trouble they say, Arise and save us!
nga bagamba emiti nti, “Ggwe kitange,” era n’ejjinja nti, “Ggwe wanzaala.” Bankubye amabega, naye bwe balaba ennaku bankaabirira nti, “Yimuka ojje otulokole.”
28 But where are thy gods, which thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble! For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah!
Kale bakatonda be weekolera baluwa? Leka bajje, bwe baba basobola okukulokola mu biseera eby’emitawaana. Kubanga obungi bwa bakatonda bammwe bwenkanankana n’ebibuga byo ggwe Yuda.
29 Why do ye enter into controversy with me? Ye have all rebelled against me, saith Jehovah.
“Lwaki munneemulugunyiza? Mwenna mwanneeddiimira,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
30 In vain have I smitten your children; They would receive no correction; Your own sword hath devoured your prophets, Like a destroying lion.
Abaana bammwe nababonereza naye nga bwerere, tebakkiriza kugololwa. Mmwe bennyini ne mwettira bannabbi bammwe ng’empologoma bw’etta.
31 O generation! Behold ye the word of Jehovah! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of darkness? Why then say my people, “We will rove at pleasure, We will come no more to thee”?
Mmwe ab’omulembe guno muwulirize ekigambo kya Katonda. Mbadde nga ddungu gye muli ng’ensi ejjudde ekizikiza eky’amaanyi? Kale lwaki abantu bange bagamba nti, “Tulina eddembe, tetukyadda gy’oli?”
32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her belt? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number!
Omuwala omuto ayinza okwerabira ebikomo, oba omugole okwerabira ekyambalo kye? Naye ng’ate abantu bange Bannerabidde!
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? On this account hast thou accustomed thy ways to wickedness.
Ng’omanyi nnyo okukuba amakubo ag’okunoonya abanaakwagala! N’asembayo okuba omukugu mu bamalaaya aba alina kuyigira ku ggwe.
34 Upon thy skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor, Whom thou didst not find committing violence.
Engoye zo zijjudde omusaayi gw’abaavu n’abatalina musango, awatali kugamba nti bakwatibwa nga babba. Ate nga wadde byonna biri bwe bityo
35 But notwithstanding all this, thou sayest, I am innocent; Surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, Because thou sayest, “I have not sinned.”
ogamba nti, “Sirina musango, ddala takyanninako busungu!” Laba, ŋŋenda kukusalira omusango olw’okugamba nti, “Sirina kibi kye nkoze.”
36 Why dost thou run so eagerly, changing thy way? By Egypt also shalt thou be put to shame, Even as thou hast been put to shame by Assyria.
Lwaki ogenda ng’okyusakyusa amakubo go! Misiri ejja kukuswaza nga Bwasuli bwe yakuswaza.
37 From Egypt also shalt thou go forth With thy hands upon thy head. For Jehovah hath rejected the objects of thy confidence, Therefore shalt thou not prosper in them.
Era n’eyo olivaayo ng’emikono ogyetisse ku mutwe, kubanga Mukama agaanye abo be weesiga; tagenda kukuyamba.

< Jeremiah 2 >