Jeremiah 39
1 After King Zedekiah had been ruling Judah for almost nine years, King Nebuchadnezzar came in January with his army, and they surrounded Jerusalem.
Hivi ndivyo Yerusalemu ilivyotwaliwa: Katika mwaka wa tisa wa utawala wa Mfalme Sedekia wa Yuda, katika mwezi wa kumi, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli akiwa na jeshi lake lote alifanya vita dhidi ya Yerusalemu na akauzunguka mji.
2 One and a half years later, after Zedekiah had been ruling for almost eleven years, on July 18, [soldiers from Babylonia] broke through the city [wall. Then they rushed in and captured the city].
Katika siku ya tisa ya mwezi wa nne wa mwaka wa kumi na moja wa utawala wa Sedekia, ukuta wa mji ulibomolewa.
3 Then all the officers of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate [to decide what they would do to the city. They included] Nergal-Sharezer from Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim who was one of the chief army officers, another Nergal-Sharezer, the king’s advisor, and many other officials.
Kisha maafisa wote wa mfalme wa Babeli wakaja na kuketi kwenye Lango la Kati, nao ni: Nergal-Shareza wa Samgari, Nebo-Sarsekimu afisa mkuu, Nergal-Shareza afisa mwenye cheo cha juu, na maafisa wengine wote wa mfalme wa Babeli.
4 When King Zedekiah and all his soldiers realized that [the army of Babylonia had broken into the city], they fled. [They waited until] it was dark. Then they went out of the city through the king’s garden, through the gate that was between the two walls. Then they started [running] toward the Jordan River Valley.
Mfalme Sedekia wa Yuda na askari wote walipowaona, wakakimbia na kuondoka mjini usiku kwa njia ya bustani ya mfalme, kupitia lango lililokuwa kati ya kuta mbili, wakaelekea Araba.
5 But the soldiers from Babylonia pursued the king, and they caught him on the plains near Jericho. They took him to the King of Babylon, who was at Riblah [town] in the Hamath [region]. There the king of Babylon told [his soldiers what] they should do to punish Zedekiah.
Lakini jeshi la Wakaldayo likawafuatia na kumpata Sedekia katika sehemu tambarare za Yeriko. Wakamkamata na kumpeleka kwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli huko Ribla, katika nchi ya Hamathi, mahali ambapo alimtangazia hukumu.
6 They forced Zedekiah to watch while they killed his sons and all the officials from Judah.
Huko Ribla, mfalme wa Babeli aliwachinja wana wa Sedekia mbele ya macho yake, na pia akawaua wakuu wote wa Yuda.
7 [Then] they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes. They fastened him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.
Kisha akayangʼoa macho ya Sedekia na kumfunga kwa pingu za shaba na kumpeleka Babeli.
8 [Meanwhile, ] the Babylonian army burned the palace and all the other buildings in Jerusalem. And they tore down the city walls.
Jeshi la Wakaldayo likachoma moto jumba la kifalme na nyumba za watu, na kuzibomoa kuta za Yerusalemu.
9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the [king’s] bodyguards, forced to go to Babylon [most of] the other people who remained in the city and the Jews who had joined the soldiers of Babylonia.
Nebuzaradani kiongozi wa walinzi wa mfalme akawachukua na kuwapeleka uhamishoni Babeli watu waliokuwa wamebaki ndani ya mji, pamoja na wale waliokuwa wamejisalimisha kwake, na watu wengine wote.
10 But he allowed some of the very poor people to remain in Judah, and he gave them vineyards and fields [to take care of].
Lakini Nebuzaradani kiongozi wa walinzi aliwabakiza baadhi ya watu maskini katika nchi ya Yuda, ambao hawakuwa na kitu. Naye wakati huo akawapa mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba mengine.
11 King Nebuchadnezzar had [previously] told Nebuzaradan to find me. He said,
Basi, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli alikuwa ametoa maagizo kuhusu Yeremia kupitia Nebuzaradani kiongozi wa walinzi wa mfalme akisema:
12 “Make sure that no one harms him. Take care of him, and do for him whatever he requests you to do.”
“Mchukue umtunze. Usimdhuru, lakini umfanyie chochote anachotaka.”
13 So he and Nebushazban, who was one of their chief officers, and Nergal-Sharezer the king’s advisor, and other officers of the King of Babylon
Basi Nebuzaradani kiongozi wa walinzi, Nebushazbani afisa mkuu, Nergal-Shareza afisa wa cheo cha juu, na maafisa wengine wote wa mfalme wa Babeli
14 sent [some men] to bring me out of the courtyard outside of the palace. They took me to Gedaliah who was the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. Then Gedaliah took me to my home, and I stayed [in Judah] among [my own] people [who had been allowed to remain there].
wakatuma watu kumwondoa Yeremia kutoka ua wa walinzi. Wakamkabidhi kwa Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu mwana wa Shafani, ili amrudishe nyumbani kwake. Kwa hiyo akabaki miongoni mwa watu wake mwenyewe.
15 While I was [still] being guarded in the palace courtyard, Yahweh gave me this message:
Wakati Yeremia alipokuwa amezuiliwa katika ua wa walinzi, neno la Bwana lilimjia kusema:
16 “Say this to Ebed-Melech, the official from Ethiopia: ‘This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], says: “I will do to this city everything that I said that I would do. I will not enable the people to prosper; I will cause them to experience disasters. You will see Jerusalem being destroyed,
“Nenda ukamwambie Ebed-Meleki Mkushi, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Ninakaribia kutimiza maneno yangu dhidi ya mji huu kwa njia ya maafa, wala si kwa kuwafanikisha. Wakati huo hayo yatatimizwa mbele ya macho yako.
17 but I will rescue you from the people whom you are afraid of.
Lakini siku hiyo nitakuokoa, asema Bwana; hutatiwa mikononi mwa wale unaowaogopa.
18 You trusted me, so I will save you. You will not be killed by [your enemies’] swords; you will remain alive. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it.’”
Nitakuokoa; hutaanguka kwa upanga, lakini maisha yako yatakuwa salama, kwa sababu unanitumaini, asema Bwana.’”
