< Jeremiah 6 >

1 “You people in Jerusalem who are from [the tribe of] Benjamin, flee from this city! Blow the trumpets in Tekoa [city south of Jerusalem]! Send up a [smoke] signal in Beth-Haccherem [town] [to warn the people of the coming danger]! A powerful [army] will come from the north, and they will cause great destruction.
“Thawani, inu anthu a ku Benjamini! Tulukani mu Yerusalemu! Lizani lipenga ku Tekowa! Kwezani mbendera ku Beti-Hakeremu! Pakuti tsoka lalikulu likubwera kuchokera kumpoto, ndipo chiwonongekocho nʼchachikulu.
2 Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.
Kodi mzinda wa Ziyoni suli ngati msipu wokongola kwambiri, kumene abusa amafikako ndi ziweto zawo?
3 [Enemy kings, not] shepherds [MET], will come [with their armies] and set up their tents around the city, and each [king will choose a part of the city for his soldiers to destroy like] [MET] shepherds divide their pastures for their flocks of sheep.
Abusa ndi nkhosa zawo adzabwera kudzalimbana nawo; adzamanga matenti awo mowuzinga, ndipo aliyense adzakhazika anthu ake pamalo pake.”
4 [The kings will tell their troops], “Get ready for the battle. We should attack them before noontime. But [if we arrive there late in the afternoon] when the shadows are becoming long,
Adzanena kuti, “Konzekani kuwuthira nkhondo mzindawo! Nyamukani, kuti tiwuthire nkhondo mzindawu masana ano. Koma tili ndi tsoka, dzuwa lapendeka, ndipo zithunzithunzi za kumadzulo zikunka zitalika.
5 we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”
Tsono nyamukani kuti tiwuthire nkhondo mzindawu usiku uno ndi kuwononga malinga ake!”
6 Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, says this: “[I will command those soldiers to] cut down the trees [outside Jerusalem] and to build dirt ramps up to the top of the city walls [in order that they can enter the city]. This city must be punished because everyone there continually oppresses others.
Yehova Wamphamvuzonse akuti, “Dulani mitengo ndipo mumange mitumbira yankhondo kulimbana ndi Yerusalemu. Mzinda umenewu uyenera kulangidwa; wadzaza ndi kuponderezana.
7 [It is as though] the wicked things that the people do pour out of the city like [SIM] water flows out of a spring. [The noise from people doing] violent and destructive actions is heard everywhere. I continually see [people who are] suffering and wounded.
Monga momwe chitsime chimatulutsira madzi ndi mmenenso Yerusalemu amatulutsira zoyipa zake. Chiwawa ndi chiwonongeko ndi zomwe zimamveka mu mzindamo; nthenda yake ndi mabala ake ndimaziona nthawi zonse.
8 Listen to what I am warning you, [you people of] [APO] Jerusalem, because if you do not listen, I will reject you and cause your land to become desolate, a land where no one lives.”
Iwe Yerusalemu, tengapo phunziro, kuopa kuti chikondi changa pa iwe chingakuchokere ndi kusandutsa dziko lako kukhala bwinja mopanda munthu wokhalamo.”
9 Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, also says this: “[I will tell your enemies] to cause your country to become as desolate [SIM] as a vineyard from which all the grapes have been completely stripped from the vines. [Their soldiers will seize the possessions of] those who remain in Israel [after the others have been exiled] like [SIM] farmers go to the vines again to pick any grapes [that were (left/not picked)].”
Yehova Wamphamvuzonse anandiwuza kuti, “Adani adzawakunkha ndithu anthu otsala a Israeli, monga momwe amachitira populula mphesa. Tsono iwe yesetsa kupulumutsa amene ungathe monga mmene amachitira munthu wokolola mphesa.”
10 [Then I said, “If I speak to the Israeli people] to warn them, (who will listen to me?/No one will listen to me.) [RHQ] [It is as though] their ears are closed, [and as a result] they cannot hear [what I say]. They scorn Yahweh’s messages; they do not want to listen to them at all.
Kodi ndiyankhule ndi yani ndi kumuchenjeza? Ndinene mawu ochenjeza kwa yani kuti amve? Makutu awo ndi otsekeka kotero kuti sangathe kumva. Mawu a Yehova ndi onyansa kwa iwo; sasangalatsidwa nawo.
11 So [now] I am extremely angry, like Yahweh is angry, and I cannot restrain it any longer.” [So] Yahweh said [to me], “Tell everyone that you are very angry with them. Tell the children in the streets and the young men who gather together. Tell the men and their wives; tell the very old people [DOU], also.
Koma ine ndadzazidwa ndi mkwiyo wa Yehova, ndipo ndatopa ndi kusunga mkwiyo wa Yehova. Yehova anandiwuza kuti, “Tsono ndidzawutulutsira mkwiyo umenewu pa ana oyenda mʼmisewu ndi pa achinyamata amene asonkhana pamodzi; pakutinso mwamuna ndi mkazi wake adzatengedwa, pamodzi ndi okalamba amene ali ndi zaka zochuluka.
12 [Tell the men that] I will give their houses to [their enemies], and I will give their property/fields and their wives to them, also, when I punish [IDM] the people who live in this land.
Nyumba zawo adzazipereka kwa ena, pamodzi ndi minda yawo ndi akazi awo. Ndidzatambasula dzanja langa kukantha anthu okhala mʼdzikomo,” akutero Yehova.
13 Everyone is trying to get money by tricking others, from the most [important people] to the least [important people]; even the prophets and the priests are trying to deceive [people to get money].
“Kuyambira wamngʼono mpaka wamkulu, onse ali ndi dyera lofuna kupeza phindu mwa kuba; aneneri pamodzi ndi ansembe omwe, onse amachita zachinyengo.
14 [They act as though the sins of my people are like] [MET] small wounds that they do not need to put bandages on. They continually [greet people by] saying ‘I hope things are going well with you,’ when things are not going well.
Amapoletsa zilonda za anthu anga pamwamba pokha. Iwo amanena kuti, ‘Mtendere, mtendere,’ pamene palibe mtendere.
15 They should be [RHQ] ashamed about the disgusting things that they do, but they are not ashamed at all. They do not [even] know how to (blush/show on their faces that they are ashamed). So, they also will be among those who will be killed. They will be destroyed when I punish them.”
Kodi amachita manyazi akamachita zonyansazo? Ayi, sachita manyazi ndi pangʼono pomwe; sadziwa ndi kugwetsa nkhope komwe. Choncho iwo adzagwera pakati pa anzawo amene agwa kale; adzagwa pansi tsiku limene ndidzawalange,” akutero Yehova.
16 This is [also] what Yahweh said [to the Israeli people]: “Stand at the crossroads and look [at the people who pass by]. Ask them what was the good behavior [that their ancestors had] long ago. [And when they tell you], behave that way. If you do that, you will find rest for your souls.” But you replied, ‘We do not want to do that!’
Yehova akuti, “Imani pa mphambano ndipo mupenye; kumeneko ndiye kuli njira zakale, funsani kumene kuli njira yabwino. Yendani mʼmenemo, ndipo mudzapeza mpumulo wa miyoyo yanu. Koma inu munati, ‘Ife sitidzayenda njira imeneyo.’
17 I sent [my prophets who were like] [MET] watchmen. They said, ‘Listen carefully when we blow the trumpets [to warn you that your enemies are approaching],’ but you said, ‘[No], we do not want to listen.’
Ine ndinakupatsani alonda oti akuyangʼanireni ndipo ndinati, ‘Imvani kulira kwa lipenga!’ koma inu munati, ‘Sitidzamvera.’
18 Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].
Nʼchifukwa chake imvani, inu anthu a mitundu ina; yangʼanitsitsani, inu amene mwasonkhana pano, chimene chidzawachitikire anthuwo.
19 Listen, all of you! I am going to cause the [Israeli] people to experience disasters. That is what will happen to them because they have refused to listen to what I told them. They have refused to obey my laws.
Imvani, inu anthu okhala pa dziko lapansi, ndikubweretsa masautso pa anthu awa. Zimenezi ndi mphotho ya ntchito zawo. Iwowa sanamvere mawu anga ndipo anakana lamulo langa.
20 [You Israeli people], when you burn frankincense that came from [far away in] Sheba, and [when you offer to me] sweet-smelling anointing oil that came from far away, I will not [RHQ] be pleased with your sacrifices. I will not accept the sacrifices that are completely burned on the altar; I am not pleased with [any of] your sacrifices.
Kodi pali phindu lanji ngakhale mubwere ndi lubani kuchokera ku Seba, kapena zonunkhira zina kuchokera ku dziko lakutali? Nsembe zanu zopsereza Ine sindidzalandira; nsembe zanu sizindikondweretsa.”
21 Therefore, I will put obstacles on the roads on which my people will travel. Men and their sons and people’s neighbors and friends will stumble over those obstacles and fall down; everyone will die.”
Choncho Yehova akuti, “Ndidzayika zokhumudwitsa pamaso pa anthu awa. Abambo ndi ana awo aamuna onse adzapunthwa ndi kugwa; anansi awo ndi abwenzi awo adzawonongeka.”
22 Yahweh [also] says this: “You will see a [huge] army marching [towards you] from the north. [An army of] a great nation very far away is preparing [to attack you].
Yehova akunena kuti, “Taonani, gulu lankhondo likubwera kuchokera kumpoto; mtundu wa anthu amphamvu wanyamuka kuchokera kumathero a dziko lapansi.
23 They have bows [and arrows] and spears; they are [very] cruel, and do not act mercifully [to anyone]. As they ride along on their horses, the horses’ feet sound like the roaring of the ocean [waves]; they are riding in battle formation to attack you people of Jerusalem.”
Atenga mauta ndi mikondo; ndi anthu ankhanza ndi opanda chifundo. Phokoso lawo lili ngati mkokomo wa nyanja. Akwera pa akavalo awo ndipo akonzekera ngati anthu ankhondo, kudzakuthirani nkhondo anthu a ku Ziyoni.”
24 [The people of Jerusalem say], “We have heard reports about the enemy; [so] we are very frightened, with the result that we feel weak. We are very afraid, and worried, like [SIM] women who are about to give birth to babies.
A ku Ziyoni akuti “Ife tamva mbiri yawo, ndipo manja anthu alefukiratu. Nkhawa yatigwira, ndipo tikumva ululu ngati mayi pa nthawi yake yochira.
25 [So one person says to another], ‘Do not go out into the fields! Do not go on the roads, because the enemy [soldiers] have swords [and they are everywhere]; they are coming from all directions, and we are extremely afraid.’”
Musapite ku minda kapena kuyenda mʼmisewu, pakuti mdani ali ndi lupanga, ndipo ponseponse anthu akuchita mantha.
26 [So I say], “My dear people, put on (sackcloth/rough clothes) and sit in ashes [to show that you are sorry for your sins]. Mourn and cry very much, like [SIM] [a woman would cry] if her only son had died, because your enemies are very near, and they are going to destroy [everything].”
Inu anthu anga, valani ziguduli ndipo gubudukani pa phulusa; lirani mwamphamvu ngati munthu wolirira mwana wake mmodzi yekha, pakuti mwadzidzidzi wowonongayo adzabwera kudzatipha.
27 [Then Yahweh said to me], “[Jeremiah], I have caused you to become [like] [MET] someone who heats metal very hot [to completely burn the impurities]. You will examine my people’s behavior.
“Iwe Yeremiya, ndakuyika kuti ukhale choyesera zitsulo. Uwayese anthu anga monga ungayesere chitsulo kuti uwone makhalidwe awo.
28 You will find out that they are very stubborn rebels, they are always slandering others. [Their inner beings] are as hard as bronze or iron; they all [continually] deceive others.
Onsewo ali ndi khalidwe lokanika ndi lowukira ndipo akunka nanena zamiseche. Iwo ndi olimba ngati mkuwa ndi chitsulo. Onse amangochita zoyipa zokhazokha.
29 [A metalworker causes] the bellows to blow very hard to [make the fire very hot to] completely burn up the impurities [MET]. [But just as] a fire does not cause all the waste material to run off, it is impossible to separate [the righteous people from the wicked people, and punish only] the wicked people.
Moto mu mvukuto ukuyaka kwambiri; mtovu watha kusungunuka ndi moto. Koma ntchito yosungunulayo sikupindula chifukwa zoyipa sizikuchokapo.
30 [I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”
Iwo ali ngati siliva wotayidwa, chifukwa Yehova wawakana.”

< Jeremiah 6 >