Jeremiah 2
1 And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying;
Neno la Bwana lilinijia kusema,
2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem saying—Thus saith Yahweh, I remember in thy behalf, the lovingkindness of thy youthful days, The love of thy bridal estate, —Thy coming out after me, Through the desert, Through a land, not sown:
“Nenda ukahubiri masikioni mwa watu wa Yerusalemu: “‘Nakumbuka moyo wako wa uchaji katika ujana wako, jinsi ulivyonipenda kama bibi arusi na kunifuata katika jangwa lile lote, katika nchi isiyopandwa mbegu.
3 Holiness, was Israel unto Yahweh, The first-fruit of his increase, —All that devoured it, were held guilty, Calamity used to come upon them, —Declareth Yahweh.
Israeli alikuwa mtakatifu kwa Bwana, kama malimbuko ya kwanza ya mavuno yake; wote waliowaangamiza walihesabiwa kuwa na hatia, nayo maafa yaliwakumba,’” asema Bwana.
4 Hear ye the word of Yahweh O house of Jacob, And all the families of the house of Israel.
Sikia neno la Bwana, ee nyumba ya Yakobo, nanyi nyote jamaa za nyumba ya Israeli.
5 Thus, saith Yahweh, —What did your fathers find in me by way of perversity, that they removed far from me, —and went after vanity, and became vain?
Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: “Je, baba zenu waliona kosa gani kwangu, hata wakatangatanga mbali nami hivyo? Walifuata sanamu zisizofaa, nao wenyewe wakawa hawafai.
6 Neither said they, Where is Yahweh, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, —Who led us Through the desert, Through a land of wastes and clefts, Through a land of parched places and of death-shade, Through a land, Along which no man had passed, And in which no son of earth dwelt?
Hawakuuliza, ‘Yuko wapi Bwana, aliyetupandisha kutoka Misri na kutuongoza kupitia nyika kame, kupitia nchi ya majangwa na mabonde, nchi ya ukame na giza, nchi ambayo hakuna mtu asafiriye ndani yake wala hakuna mtu aishiye humo?’
7 Then brought I you into a country of garden land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof, —and yet when ye entered, then defiled ye my land, and mine inheritance, ye made an abomination
Niliwaleta katika nchi yenye wingi wa vitu ili mpate kula matunda yake na utajiri wa mazao yake. Lakini mkaja na kuinajisi nchi yangu, na kuufanya urithi wangu chukizo.
8 The priests, said not Where is Yahweh? And, they who handled the law, did not acknowledge me, And the shepherds transgressed against me, —And the prophets, prophesied by Baal, And so after things that could not profit, did they walk.
Makuhani hawakuuliza, ‘Yuko wapi Bwana?’ Wale wanaoshughulikia sheria hawakunijua mimi; viongozi waliasi dhidi yangu. Manabii walitabiri kwa jina la Baali, wakifuata sanamu zisizofaa.
9 Therefore yet further will I plead with you Declareth Yahweh, Yea with your children’s children, will I plead.
“Kwa hiyo naleta tena mashtaka dhidi yako,” asema Bwana. “Nami nitaleta mashtaka dhidi ya watoto wa watoto wako.
10 For—pass through the coastlands of the West and see, And unto Kedar, send ye and consider diligently, —And see—whether there hath been the like of this!
Vuka, nenda ngʼambo mpaka pwani ya Kitimu nawe uangalie, tuma watu waende Kedari, wachunguze kwa makini, uone kama kumekuwepo kitu kama hiki.
11 Hath a nation, changed gods, although they were No-gods? Yet my people have changed my glory for that which could not profit!
Je, taifa limebadili miungu yake wakati wowote? (Hata ingawa hao si miungu kamwe.) Lakini watu wangu wamebadili Utukufu wao kwa sanamu zisizofaa kitu.
12 Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this, —And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh.
Shangaeni katika hili, ee mbingu, nanyi tetemekeni kwa hofu kuu,” asema Bwana.
13 For two wicked things, have my people committed, —Me, have they forsaken a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves cisterns broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
“Watu wangu wametenda dhambi mbili: Wameniacha mimi, niliye chemchemi ya maji yaliyo hai, nao wamejichimbia visima vyao wenyewe, visima vilivyobomoka, visivyoweza kuhifadhi maji.
14 Was Israel a servant? Born in the house, was he? Wherefore hath he become a prey?
Je, Israeli ni mtumishi, yaani mtumwa kwa kuzaliwa? Kwa nini basi amekuwa mateka?
15 Against him, have been roaring wild lions, They have uttered their voice, —and have made his land a desolation, His cities, have been burned, so as to have no inhabitant.
Simba wamenguruma; wamemngurumia. Wameifanya nchi yake kuwa ukiwa; miji yake imeteketezwa, nayo imeachwa haina watu.
16 Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have been crushing the crown of the head.
Pia watu wa Memfisi na Tahpanhesi wamevunja taji ya kichwa chako.
17 Is not this what thou wast certain to do for thyself, —in that thou didst forsake Yahweh thy God, when he was leading thee by the way?
Je, hukujiletea hili wewe mwenyewe kwa kumwacha Bwana, Mungu wako alipowaongoza njiani?
18 Now, therefore what hast thou to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do with the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River ["Euphrates"]?
Sasa kwa nini uende Misri kunywa maji ya Shihori? Nawe kwa nini kwenda Ashuru kunywa maji ya Mto Frati?
19 Let thy wickedness correct thee And thine apostasies, rebuke thee, Know therefore and see That it is a wicked thing and a bitter, that thou shouldest have forsaken Yahweh thy God, And that the dread of me should not have pertained to thee, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh of hosts.
Uovu wako utakuadhibu; kurudi nyuma kwako kutakukemea. Basi kumbuka, utambue jinsi lilivyo ovu na chungu kwako unapomwacha Bwana Mungu wako na kutokuwa na hofu yangu,” asema Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
20 For, in age-past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress, —Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman.
“Zamani nilivunja nira yako na kukatilia mbali vifungo vyako; ukasema, ‘Sitakutumikia!’ Naam kweli, kwenye kila kilima kirefu na chini ya kila mti uliotanda matawi yake ulijilaza kama kahaba.
21 Yet, I, planted thee a precious vine, a wholly true seed, —How then didst thou change thyself towards me, into the degenerate plantings of the alien vine?
Nilikupanda ukiwa mzabibu ulio bora sana, mkamilifu na wa mbegu nzuri. Ilikuwaje basi ukawa kinyume nami, ukaharibika na kuwa mzabibu mwitu?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity inscribed before me Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
Hata ujisafishe kwa magadi na kutumia sabuni nyingi, bado doa la hatia yako liko mbele zangu,” asema Bwana Mwenyezi.
23 How canst thou say, I have not defiled myself, After the Baalim, have I not gone? See thy way, in the valley, Own what thou hast done, —A nimble young she-camel, crossing her own ways;
“Wawezaje kusema, ‘Mimi si najisi, sijawafuata Mabaali’? Kumbuka jinsi ulivyotenda kule bondeni; fikiri uliyoyafanya. Wewe ni ngamia jike mwenye mbio ukikimbia hapa na pale,
24 A wild ass, taught of the desert, In the desire of her soul, she snuffeth the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her back? None who seek her, will weary themselves, In her month, they shall find her!
punda-mwitu aliyezoea jangwa, anayenusa upepo katika tamaa yake kubwa: katika wakati wake wa kuhitaji mbegu ni nani awezaye kumzuia? Madume yoyote yanayomfuatilia hayana haja ya kujichosha; wakati wa kupandwa kwake watampata tu.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou saidst Hopeless! No! for I love foreigners and after them, will I go.
Usikimbie hadi miguu yako iwe haina viatu, na koo lako liwe limekauka. Lakini ulisema, ‘Haina maana! Ninaipenda miungu ya kigeni, nami lazima niifuatie.’
26 As the shame of a thief when he is found, So, hath been put to shame, the house of Israel, —They, their kings their princes, and their priests and their prophets:
“Kama vile mwizi aaibikavyo wakati amekamatwa, hivyo ndivyo nyumba ya Israeli inavyoaibishwa: wao wenyewe, wafalme wao na maafisa wao, makuhani wao na manabii wao.
27 Saying, to a tree, My father, art thou! And to a stone, Thou, didst give us birth, For they have turned unto me the back and not the face, —But in the time of their calamity, they will say, Arise, and save us!
Wanaiambia miti, ‘Wewe ndiwe baba yangu,’ nalo jiwe, ‘Wewe ndiwe uliyenizaa.’ Wamenipa visogo vyao wala hawakunigeuzia nyuso zao; lakini wakiwa katika taabu, wanasema, ‘Njoo utuokoe!’
28 Where then are thy gods which thou hast made for thyself? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy calamity, —For according to the number of thy cities, have become thy gods O Judah.
Iko wapi basi ile miungu mliyojitengenezea? Yenyewe na ije kama inaweza kuwaokoa wakati mko katika taabu! Kwa maana mna miungu mingi kama mlivyo na miji, ee Yuda.
29 Wherefore, should ye plead against me, All of you, have transgressed against me Declareth Yahweh.
“Kwa nini mnaleta mashtaka dhidi yangu? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi,” asema Bwana.
30 In vain, have I smitten your children, Correction, have they not accepted, —Your sword hath devoured your prophets, as a lion that destroyeth.
“Nimeadhibu watu wako bure tu, hawakujirekebisha. Upanga wako umewala manabii wako kama simba mwenye njaa.
31 O generation see, ye, the word of Yahweh, A desert, became I unto Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore, have my people said, We have roved about, We will not come in any more unto thee?
“Enyi wa kizazi hiki, tafakarini neno la Bwana: “Je, nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli au nchi ya giza kuu? Kwa nini watu wangu wanasema, ‘Sisi tuko huru kuzurura, hatutarudi kwako tena’?
32 Can, a virgin, forget, her ornaments, —A bride, her girdle? Yet, my people, have forgotten me, days without number.
Je, mwanamwali husahau vito vyake, au bibi arusi mapambo yake ya arusi? Lakini watu wangu wamenisahau mimi, tena kwa siku zisizo na hesabu.
33 How thou dost make winsome thy way, to seek love! Therefore, even unto wicked women, hast thou taught thy ways.
Je, wewe una ustadi kiasi gani katika kufuatia mapenzi! Hata wale wanawake wabaya kuliko wote wanaweza kujifunza kutokana na njia zako.
34 Even in thy skirts, is there found, The blood of the lives of the helpless innocents, —Not in the act of breaking in, didst thou find them, yet [the blood is] on all these.
Katika nguo zako watu huona damu ya uhai ya maskini wasio na hatia, ingawa hukuwakamata wakivunja nyumba. Lakini katika haya yote
35 Although thou saidst, Because I am innocent, surely hath his anger turned back from me, —Behold me! entering into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned!
unasema, ‘Sina hatia; Mungu hajanikasirikia.’ Lakini nitakuhukumu kwa sababu unasema, ‘Mimi sijatenda dhambi.’
36 How vigorously, thou goest about changing thy way! Even of Egypt, shalt thou be ashamed, just as thou wast ashamed of Assyria:
Kwa nini unatangatanga sana, kubadili njia zako? Utakatishwa tamaa na Misri kama ulivyokatishwa na Ashuru.
37 Even from this one, shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head, —For Yahweh hath rejected those in whom thou confidest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.
Pia utaondoka mahali hapo ukiwa umeweka mikono kichwani, kwa kuwa Bwana amewakataa wale unaowatumainia; hutasaidiwa nao.
