< Jeremiah 31 >

1 Yahweh says that at that time, he will be the God [who is worshiped by] all the clans in Israel, and they will be his people.
“Nʼoge ahụ,” otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara ya, sị, “Aga m abụ Chineke nke agbụrụ Izrel niile. Ha ga-abụkwa ndị m.”
2 This is what Yahweh says: “Those [people] who remained alive and were not killed by [their enemies’] swords were blessed [by me even] in the desert; I enabled them to have peace.
Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Ndị ahụ gbanarịrị mma agha ga-ahụta ihuọma nʼọzara. Aga m abịa iwetara Izrel izuike.”
3 Long ago [I, ] Yahweh, said to [your ancestors, ] the Israeli people, ‘I have loved you and I will continue to love you forever. By faithfully loving you, I have brought you close to myself.’
Onyenwe anyị mere ka anyị hụ ya anya site nʼebe dị anya, na-asị, “Ọ bụ ịhụnanya nke na-adịgide ruo mgbe ebighị ebi ka m ji hụ gị nʼanya; Ọ bụ ebere nke na-adịghị agbanwe ka m ji dọta unu nso.
4 And [now I tell you], my Israeli people whom I love [MET], that I will cause you to be a nation again. You will [joyfully] dance as you play your tambourines.
Aga m ewulikwa gị elu ọzọ, e, aga m eme ka ị bụrụ ihe e wugharịrị ọzọ, gị Izrel bụ nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke. Mgbe ahụ, ị ga-eji ihe iti egwu gị pụọ soro ndị ọṅụ juru obi tee egwu.
5 Again you will plant your vineyards on the hills of Samaria, and you will eat the grapes [that grow there].
Mgbe ahụ, ị ga-akụkwa ubi vaịnị a gbara ogige nʼelu ugwu Sameria. Ndị ọrụ ubi kụrụ ya ga-erikwa mkpụrụ si na ya.
6 There will be a time when watchmen will call out from the hills of Samaria [MTY], ‘Come, let’s go up to Jerusalem to [worship] Yahweh, our God!'”
Ụbọchị ahụ ga-adị mgbe ndị nche ga-anọ nʼelu ugwu nta niile nke Ifrem tikuo ndị niile sị ha, ‘Bịanụ ka anyị jeruo Zayọn, ka anyị jee nʼihu Onyenwe anyị Chineke anyị.’”
7 And now Yahweh also says this: “Sing joyfully about [what I have done for] the people of Israel! Shout about [your nation, ] the greatest nation! Shout joyfully, praising me and saying, ‘Yahweh, rescue your people, the ones who are still alive!’
Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Tienụ mkpu ọṅụ nʼihi Jekọb, tienụ mkpu ọṅụ nʼihi onye ahụ kachasị mba niile nʼịdị ukwuu. Meenụ ka a nụrụ ya, toonu ma na-asịkwanụ, ‘Onyenwe anyị, biko, zọpụta ndị gị, bụ ndị Izrel fọdụrụ.’
8 Do that [because] I will bring them back from the northeast, from the most distant places on the earth. Among them will be blind people and lame people, women who are pregnant and women who are (having labor pains/about to give birth to babies). They will be a huge group of people!
Lee, aga m esite nʼala ahụ dị nʼugwu kpọta ha; aga m eme ka e si na nsọtụ niile nke ụwa chịkọtaa ha. Nʼetiti ha ka a ga-ahụ ndị kpuru ìsì na ndị ngwụrọ, na ndị inyom dị ime, na ndị inyom ime na-eme. Ndị ga-alọta ga-adị nnọọ ukwuu!
9 They will be crying as they return, and they will be praying [to me]. I will guide them along streams of water, on level paths where they will not stumble. [I will do this] because I am [like] a father to the Israeli people; [it is as though] Israel is my oldest son.”
Ha ga na-akwa akwa mgbe ha na-alọta, ha ga-anọkwa nʼekpere mgbe m ga-edulata ha. Aga m edu ha site nʼakụkụ iyi, nʼala dị larịị, ebe ha na-agaghị akpọbi ụkwụ ha, nʼihi na aghọọlara m Izrel nna, Ifrem bụkwa ọkpara m.
10 Yahweh says, “[You people in the] nations of the world, listen to this message from me. Then proclaim it to [people who live along] the coasts far away. I scattered my people, but I will gather them [again] and will take care of them like [SIM] a shepherd takes care of his sheep.
“Nụrụnụ okwu Onyenwe anyị, unu mba niile; kwusaanụ ya nʼebe dị anya nke ala ahụ dị nʼakụkụ osimiri niile. Onye ahụ chụsara Izrel ga-achịkọtakwa ha. Ọ ga-elekọtakwa igwe ewu na atụrụ ya dịka onye ọzụzụ atụrụ.
11 I will buy [my] Israeli people back from those who [conquered them because] they were more powerful [than my people].
Nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ga-agbapụta Jekọb, ọ ga-anapụtakwa ha site nʼaka ndị ka ha ike.
12 My people will return [to Jerusalem] and shout joyfully on the slopes of Zion Hill. They will rejoice about the things that I have abundantly given to them— grain and new wine and [olive] oil and young sheep and cattle. They themselves will be like a well-watered garden, and they will no longer be sad.
Ha ga-abịa nọọ nʼugwu Zayọn tie mkpu ọṅụ, ha ga-aṅụrị ọṅụ nʼihi ịdị ukwu nke ezi ihe Onyenwe anyị nyere ha, dịka ọka, na mmanya ọhụrụ, na mmanụ, na ụmụ igwe ewu na atụrụ, na ọtụtụ ehi. Ha ga-adị ka ubi a na-agba mmiri mgbe niile; ha agaghị erukwa ụjụ ọzọ.
13 The young women will dance joyfully, and [all] the men, young ones and old ones, will join with them. I will cause them to rejoice instead of mourning; I will comfort them and cause them to be happy instead of being sad.
Mgbe ahụ, obi ga-atọ ụmụ agbọghọ ụtọ, ha ga-etekwa egwu ọṅụ, ụmụ okorobịa na ndị agadi ga-aṅụrịkwa ọṅụ. Aga m eme ka iru ụjụ ha ghọọrọ ha obi ụtọ, aga m enyekwa ha nkasiobi na ọṅụ nʼọnọdụ mwute.
14 The priests will have plenty of things to eat and drink, and [all] my people will be filled with the good things that I give them. [That will certainly happen because I], Yahweh, have said it!”
Aga m emekwa ka afọ jubiga ndị nchụaja oke nʼihi ịdị ukwuu nke onyinye ha ga-enweta, afọ ezi ihe m ga-ejukwa ndị m,” otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
15 Yahweh [also] says this: “Women were weeping in Ramah [town on the border between Israel and Judah]; they were mourning and crying very loudly. [The women who were the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two grandsons of] Rachel [the wife of Jacob], were weeping about their children, and no one could comfort them because their children were [all] dead.
Ihe ndị a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “A nụrụ otu olu na Rema, iru ụjụ na oke ịkwa akwa. Rechel na-akwa akwa nʼihi ụmụ ya, o kwekwaghị ịnabata nkasiobi a na-akasị ya, nʼihi na ụmụ ya adịghịkwa.”
16 [But now] this is what [I], Yahweh, say: ‘Do not cry [any more], because I will reward you [for the good things you have done for your children]. Your children will return from the land where their enemies [have taken them].
Ma otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Jide olu gị aka, ka ọ ghara ịkwa akwa, jidekwa anya gị abụọ, ka ha ghara ịgba anya mmiri, nʼihi na a ga-akwụ gị ụgwọ ọrụ nʼihi ọrụ gị.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara. “Ha ga-esite nʼala ndị iro ha lọtakwa.
17 [I], Yahweh, am telling you that there are things that you can confidently expect [me to do for you] in the future. Your children will return to their own land.’
Nʼihi ya, olileanya dịkwara ọdịnʼihu gị.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri. “Ụmụ gị ga-alọtakwa nʼala nke aka ha.
18 I have heard [the people of] Israel grieving very much [and saying to me], ‘You punished us severely, like [SIM] calves are beaten [by their owners to train them for pulling a plow]. [So] bring us back [to obey/worship you again], because we are ready to return to you, because you [alone] are Yahweh, our God.
“Anụla m nnọọ ịsụ ude Ifrem, na okwu o kwuru sị, ‘Ị dọọla m aka na ntị dịka nwa ehi nke na-eme isiike. Lee, amụtala m ihe ị chọrọ ka m mụta site nʼịdọ aka na ntị gị. Ya mere, kpọlata m, ka m nwee ike lọtakwa, nʼihi na ị bụ Onyenwe anyị na Chineke m.
19 We turned away [from you], but we repented; [after you] caused us to realize [that we were guilty]. We beat our chests to show that we were very ashamed [DOU] of the sins that we committed when we were young.’
Mgbe m kpafuru, echegharịrị m. Mgbe m ghọtakwara, e tiri m aka nʼobi m, ihere mere m, ọ wutekwara m nʼihi nʼọnọdụ ihe ihere nʼihi ụdị ndụ m biri nʼokorobịa m.’
20 But [I], Yahweh, say this: The Israeli people certainly are [RHQ] still my dear children [DOU]. It is often necessary for me to threaten [to punish] them, but I still love them. That is why I have not forgotten them, and I will certainly act mercifully toward them.
Ifrem, ọ bụghị nwa m nwoke, onye ihe ya na-atọ m ụtọ? Ọ bụ ezie na m na-ekwu okwu megide ya, ma anọkwa m na-echeta ya. Nʼihi ya, ihe banyere ya na-agụsị obi m agụụ ike. Ana m enwekwa obi ebere nʼebe ọ nọ.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
21 [You Israeli people, ] set up road signs; put up posts [along the roads] to mark the road on which you walked [when you were taken from Jerusalem]. My precious/beloved Israeli people, come back to your towns here.
“Manyenụ ogidi ịhụba ụzọ ama, manyekwanụ osisi ịhụba ụzọ ama. Lezienụ anya mụta aha okporoụzọ niile, bụ okporoụzọ unu ga-eso. Lọta, gị Izrel, bụ nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke, laghachi nʼobodo gị ndị a.
22 You people who have been like [MET] daughters who have forsaken their parents, how long will you continue to wander [away from me] [RHQ]? I, Yahweh, will cause something to happen on the earth that (is new/has not happened before): The women of Israel will be protecting their husbands as they travel [back here]!”
Ruo ole mgbe ka ị ga-anọ na-awagharị, gị nwaagbọghọ na-ekwesighị ntụkwasị obi Izrel? Nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị na-aga ime ihe ọhụrụ nʼụwa; nwanyị ga-anọ nwoke gburugburu.”
23 This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israeli people [worship], says: “When I bring them back from the countries to which they have been exiled, all the people from the towns in Judah will again say, [‘I hope that] Yahweh will bless this my home, the holy place where righteous [people will live]!’
Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile, bụ Chineke Izrel, kwuru, “Mgbe m si na mba ọzọ kpọghachi ha, ndị ga-ebi nʼala Juda na nʼime obodo ya niile ga-ekwu okwu ndị a ọzọ sị: ‘Onyenwe anyị gọzie gị, gị ebe obibi dị nsọ, gị ugwu dị nsọ.’
24 [The people of] Judah [who live in] the towns, including the farmers and the shepherds, will all live together [peacefully].
Ndị mmadụ ga-ebikọta ọnụ na Juda na nʼobodo niile dị nʼime ya, ma ndị na-arụ ọrụ ubi, ma ndị na-elekọta igwe ewu na atụrụ ha.
25 I will enable weary people to rest, and enable people who are very exhausted to become strong again.”
Aga m enwoghakwa ike ndị na-ada mba, meekwa ka afọ ju ndị ike gwụrụ.”
26 I, [Jeremiah], woke up [after dreaming all those things], and I looked [around]. I had slept [very] delightfully!
Nʼoge a, esi m nʼụra teta, lee anya gburugburu m. Ụra m rahụrụ tọrọ m ụtọ nke ukwuu.
27 [Then] Yahweh said [to me], “There will be a time when I will greatly increase [MET] the number of people and the number of livestock here in Israel and Judah.
Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara, “Lee, ụbọchị ndị ahụ na-abịa, mgbe m ga-akụ ụmụ mmadụ na ụmụ anụmanụ nʼụlọ Izrel na nʼụlọ Juda.
28 [Previously], I caused [their enemies to] remove the people from their land and to destroy their land and to cause them to experience many disasters [DOU]. But in the future, I will enable them to build houses and to plant crops [here in Israel again]. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it.
Ọ ga-erukwa na dịka m legidere ha anya maka ihopu ha, ikwada ha, itikpọ ha, laa ha nʼiyi, ma mee ka ihe ọjọọ bịakwasịrị ha, otu a ka m ga-esikwa lezie ha anya iwuzi ha na ịkụ ha dị ka mkpụrụ.” Ọ bụ otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
29 [Previously the people often said, ] ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but it is the children’s teeth that ache.’ [They meant that it was not fair for them to be punished for their ancestors’ sins]. But [when I bring them back to their land], they will no longer say that.
“Nʼụbọchị ndị ahụ, ndị mmadụ agaghị asịkwa, “‘Nna anyị ha arachaala mkpụrụ osisi na-achaghị acha, ma lee, eze ụmụ ha na-ejiji ejiji.’
30 But now all people will die because of the sins that they themselves have committed.
Kama onye ọbụla ga-anwụ nʼihi mmehie nke aka ya; onye rachara mkpụrụ osisi na-achaghị acha ka eze ya ga-ejiji.
31 [I], Yahweh, say this: ‘There will be a time when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and Judah.
“Lee, oge na-abịa,” ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara, “mgbe m ga-eme ka ọgbụgba ndụ ọhụrụ dịrị nʼetiti mụ na ụlọ Izrel, nakwa ụlọ Juda.
32 [This new agreement will] not be like the agreement that I made with their ancestors when I took them by their hands and led them out of Egypt. They broke that agreement, even though I [loved them like] [MET] husbands love their wives.’
Ọ bụghị ụdị ọgbụgba ndụ ahụ mụ na nna nna ha gbara, mgbe ahụ m jidere ha nʼaka site nʼala Ijipt dupụta ha, nʼihi na ha mebie ọgbụgba ndụ m, ọ bụ ezie na mụ onwe m bụ di nye ha,” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.
33 This is what I, Yahweh, say: ‘This is the new agreement that I will make with the people of Israel some day: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their inner beings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
“Ma nke a bụ ọgbụgba ndụ mụ na ụlọ Izrel ga-agba mgbe oge ndị ahụ gasịrị,” ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara. “Aga m etinye iwu m nʼime obi ha, aga m edekwasịkwa ha nʼuche ha. Aga m abụ Chineke ha, ha onwe ha ga-abụkwa ndị m.
34 And it will not be [necessary] for them to teach their neighbors or their relatives and say, “[You need to] know Yahweh,” because everyone, including unimportant people and very important people, will [already] know me. And I will forgive them for having been very wicked, and I will never think again about the sins that they have committed.’”
Ọ dịghị onye ọbụla nʼetiti ha ga-akụziri onye agbataobi ya ihe, maọbụ otu onye asị ibe ya, ‘Mara Onyenwe anyị,’ nʼihi na ha niile ga-ama onye m bụ, site nʼonye dịkarịsịrị nta ruo nʼonye dịkarịsịrị ukwuu nʼetiti ha.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri ya. “Nʼihi na aga m agbaghara ajọ omume ha, agaghị m echetakwa mmehie ha niile ọzọ.”
35 Yahweh is the one who causes the sun to give light during the day, and who causes the moon and the stars to give light during the night. He stirs up the seas, with the result that waves roar. His name is the Commander of the armies of angels, and this is what he says:
Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, bụ onye ahụ họpụtara anyanwụ mee ka ọ na-enye ihe nʼehihie, onye ahụ nyere ọnwa na kpakpando iwu ka ha na-enye ihe nʼanyasị, onye na-akpali oke osimiri, na-eme ka ebiliri mmiri na-ebigbọ. Aha ya bụ Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile.
36 “I will not reject my Israeli people any more than I will get rid of the laws [that control the universe].
Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara, “Ọ bụ naanị ma ụkpụrụ ndị a ọ pụrụ nʼihu m, ghara ịdịkwa, ka a ga-eme ka ụmụ ụmụ Izrel ghara ịdị, ka ha ghara ịbụkwa mba nʼihu m ọzọ.”
37 And this is what I say: ‘No one can measure the sky, and no one can find out what is supporting the earth. Similarly, I cannot reject forever the descendants of Jacob because of all the [evil] things that they have done.’ [That is certain, because] I, Yahweh, have said it!
Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Ọ bụ naanị mgbe e nwere ike ịtụ ma chọpụta ịsa mbara nke mbara eluigwe, na ịdị omimi nke ntọala ụwa, ka m ga-ajụ ụmụ ụmụ niile nke Izrel, nʼihi ihe niile ha mere.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
38 [I], Yahweh, also say that there will be a time when [everything in] Jerusalem will be rebuilt for me, from the tower of Hananel [at the northeast corner, west] to [the gate named] the Corner Gate.
“Ụbọchị ndị ahụ na-abịa, Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri, mgbe a ga-ewugharị obodo a nye m, site nʼụlọ elu Hananel ruo nʼọnụ ụzọ ama Akụkụ.
39 [Workers] will stretch a measuring line/string over Gareb Hill all the way [southwest] to Goah.
Ịdị ogologo nke eriri ọtụtụ a ga-eji tụọ ya ga-adị ka site nʼihu ọnụ ụzọ ama ahụ ruo nʼugwu Gareb, gaakwa ruo Goa.
40 And the whole area, including the place where corpses and ashes are thrown in the [Kidron] Valley, and all the fields to the east as far as the Horse Gate, will become set apart for me. And the city [of Jerusalem] will never again be captured or destroyed.”
Ndagwurugwu ahụ niile ebe a tụnyere ozu ndị mmadụ, na ebe e kpofuru ntụ, na mgbada ugwu ahụ niile ebe e doziri edozi maka ịkụ ihe, ruo na ndagwurugwu iyi Kidrọn nke dị nʼakụkụ ọnụ ụzọ ama ịnyịnya, ga-aghọkwa ebe dị nsọ nye Onyenwe anyị. A gaghị ehopukwa obodo ahụ ọzọ, maọbụ tikpọọ ya.”

< Jeremiah 31 >