< Jeremia 2 >

1 Ningĩ ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova nĩyanginyĩrire, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Thiĩ ũkaanĩrĩre ũkĩiguagwo nĩ andũ a Jerusalemu, ũmeere atĩrĩ: “‘Nĩndirikanaga ũrĩa weheanĩte kũrĩ niĩ rĩrĩa warĩ mwĩthĩ, na ũrĩa wanyendete rĩrĩa ndakũhikirie na ũkĩnũmĩrĩra kũu werũ-inĩ, tũgĩtuĩkanĩria kũu bũrũri ũcio ũtaahandagwo irio.
Go and say in the ears of Jerusalem, The Lord says, I still keep the memory of your kind heart when you were young, and your love when you became my bride; how you went after me in the waste of sand, in an unplanted land.
3 Isiraeli-rĩ, aatũũrĩte aamũrĩirwo Jehova, arĩ maciaro ma mbere ma magetha make; arĩa othe maamũtambuuraga maatuirwo ahĩtia, nao magĩkinyĩrĩrwo nĩ mwanangĩko,’” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Israel was holy to the Lord, the first-fruits of his increase: all who made attacks on him were judged as wrongdoers, evil came on them, says the Lord.
4 Thikĩrĩriai mũigue ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Jakubu, inyuĩ inyuothe andũ a mĩhĩrĩga yothe ya nyũmba ya Isiraeli.
Give ear to the words of the Lord, O sons of Jacob and all the families of Israel:
5 Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Nĩ mahĩtia marĩkũ maithe manyu maanyonire namo, atĩ nĩkĩo maandirikire, makĩndaihĩrĩria ũguo? Maarũmĩrĩire mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene, nao ene makĩaga kĩene.
These are the words of the Lord: What evil have your fathers seen in me that they have gone far from me, and, walking after what is false, have become false?
6 Matiigana kũũria atĩrĩ: ‘Jehova arĩ ha, ũrĩa watũrutire bũrũri wa Misiri, agĩtũgereria werũ-inĩ ũtaarĩ kĩndũ, tũkĩgerera bũrũri warĩ wa werũ na iharũrũka, bũrũri ũtoiraga mbura, na warĩ nduma ta ya gĩkuũ, bũrũri ũtaageragĩrwo na ũtaatũũragwo nĩ mũndũ?’
And they never said, Where is the Lord, who took us up out of the land of Egypt; who was our guide through the waste of sand, through an unplanted land full of deep holes, through a dry land of deep shade, which no one went through and where no man was living?
7 Nĩndamũrehire bũrũri mũnoru, nĩguo mũrĩĩage matunda maguo, na mwĩgune na indo ciakuo iria njega. No inyuĩ muokire, mũgĩthaahia bũrũri wakwa na mũgĩtũma igai rĩakwa rĩthũũrwo mũno.
And I took you into a fertile land, where you were living on its fruit and its wealth; but when you came in, you made my land unclean, and made my heritage a disgusting thing.
8 Athĩnjĩri-Ngai matiigana kũũria atĩrĩ: ‘Jehova arĩ ha?’ Arĩa marũmbũyagia watho matiigana kũũmenya; atongoria ao nĩmanemeire. Anabii maarathaga mohoro makĩgwetaga Baali, marũmĩrĩire mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene.
The priests did not say, Where is the Lord? and those who were expert in the law had no knowledge of me: and the rulers did evil against me, and the prophets became prophets of the Baal, going after things without value.
9 “Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩngũmũciirithia o rĩngĩ,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga. “Ningĩ nĩngaciirithia ciana cia ciana cianyu.
For this reason, I will again put forward my cause against you, says the Lord, even against you and against your children's children.
10 Ringai mũthiĩ hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Kitimu mũkerorere, ningĩ mũtũmane gũthiio Kedari gũgatuĩrio wega, muone kana kũrĩ kuoneka ũndũ ta ũyũ:
For go over to the sea-lands of Kittim and see; send to Kedar and give deep thought to it; and see if there has ever been such a thing.
11 Atĩrĩrĩ, nĩ kũrĩ rũrĩrĩ rũrĩ rwatirika ngai ciaruo, rũkĩgarũrũkĩra ngai ingĩ? (O na harĩa ngai icio itarĩ ngai.) No rĩrĩ, andũ akwa nĩmakũũranĩtie Riiri wao na mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene.
Has any nation ever made a change in their gods, though they are no gods? but my people have given up their glory in exchange for what is of no profit.
12 Inyuĩ igũrũ-rĩ, makaai nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio, inainai mũrĩ na kĩeha kĩnene,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Be full of wonder, O heavens, at this; be overcome with fear, be completely waste, says the Lord.
13 “Andũ akwa nĩmekĩte mehia meerĩ: Nĩmandirikĩte, o niĩ gĩthima kĩa maaĩ ma muoyo, na makeyenjera marima mangĩ ma maaĩ, namo nĩ marima mamethũkangu, matangĩiga maaĩ.
For my people have done two evils; they have given up me, the fountain of living waters, and have made for themselves water-holes, cut out from the rock, broken water-holes, of no use for storing water.
14 Rĩu-rĩ, anga Isiraeli nĩ ndungata, o mũndũ ũciarĩirwo ũkombo-inĩ? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte atuĩke mũndũ wa gũtahwo?
Is Israel a servant? has he been a house-servant from birth? why has he been made waste?
15 Mĩrũũthi nĩĩraramĩte; nĩĩmũraramĩire. Nĩyanangĩte bũrũri wake; matũũra make macinĩtwo na mwaki, na magatigwo matarĩ mũndũ.
The young lions have made an outcry against him with a loud voice: they have made his land waste; his towns are burned up, with no one living in them.
16 O na andũ a Memufisi, na a Tahapanahesi nĩmagũtiihĩtie, magagwĩkĩra rũhara ruototia rwa mũtwe.
Even the children of Noph and Tahpanhes have put shame on you.
17 Githĩ tiwe mwene wĩrehereire maũndũ maya nĩ ũndũ wa gũtirika Jehova Ngai waku, o rĩrĩa we aagũtongoragia na njĩra ĩrĩa wageraga?
Has not this come on you because you have given up the Lord your God, who was your guide by the way?
18 Rĩu-rĩ, nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma ũcooke bũrũri wa Misiri ũkanyue maaĩ ma Shihoru? Na ningĩ-rĩ, ũgũthiĩ Ashuri nĩkĩ, ũkanyue maaĩ ma Rũũĩ rwa Farati?
And now, what have you to do on the way to Egypt, to get your drink from the waters of the Nile? or what have you to do on the way to Assyria, to get your drink from the waters of the River?
19 Waganu waku nĩguo ũgaakũherithia, nakuo gũcooka na thuutha gwaku nĩgũgakũrũithia. Tondũ ũcio wĩciirie wega na ũmenye ũrĩa arĩ ũndũ mũũru mũno na ũrĩ ruo harĩwe, rĩrĩa ũtirikĩte Jehova Ngai waku, na rĩrĩa ũkwaga kwĩĩndigĩra,” ũguo nĩguo Mwathani, o we Jehova Mwene-Hinya-Wothe, ekuuga.
The evil you yourselves have done will be your punishment, your errors will be your judge: be certain then, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing to give up the Lord your God, and no longer to be moved by fear of me, says the Lord, the Lord of armies.
20 “Nĩwoinangire icooki rĩaku rĩa ngingo o tene, na ũgĩtuuanga mĩhĩndo yaku; woigire atĩrĩ, ‘Ndigũcooka gũgũtungata!’ Tondũ-rĩ, tũrĩma-inĩ tũrĩa tuothe tũraihu na igũrũ, na rungu rwa mũtĩ o wothe mũruru nĩkuo wakomaga ũkĩhũũra ũmaraya.
For in the past, your yoke was broken by your hands and your cords parted; and you said, I will not be your servant; for on every high hill and under every branching tree, your behaviour was like that of a loose woman
21 Niĩ ndaakũhaandĩte ũrĩ ta mũthabibũ mũthuuranĩre wa mũthemba ũrĩa mwega. Wagĩcookire kũngarũrũka atĩa, ũgĩthũka, ũgĩtuĩka ta mũthabibũ wa gĩthaka?
But when you were planted by me, you were a noble vine, in every way a true seed: how then have you been changed into the branching plant of a strange vine?
22 O na ũngĩĩthamba na igata, o na ũhũthĩre thabuni mũingĩ mũno-rĩ, kĩmeni kĩa wĩhia waku ndingĩtiga gũkĩona,” ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.
For even if you are washed with soda and take much soap, still your evil-doing is marked before me, says the Lord God.
23 “Rĩu-rĩ, ũngĩhota atĩa kuuga atĩrĩ: ‘Niĩ ndiĩthaahĩtie; ndirũmĩrĩire kĩrĩra kĩa Mabaali’? Ta rora wone mĩtugo yaku kũu gĩtuamba-inĩ; wĩcũũranie wega maũndũ marĩa wĩkĩte. Wee ũhaana ta moori ya ngamĩĩra ĩgĩcangacanga kũndũ na kũndũ,
How are you able to say, I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals? see your way in the valley, be clear about what you have done: you are a quick-footed camel twisting her way in and out;
24 ũkahaana ta njagĩ ĩrĩa ĩmenyerete gũikara werũ-inĩ, ĩrĩa ĩnuhanuhaga rĩrĩa ĩkwenda kũhaicwo; rĩrĩa ĩrĩ na mũrukĩ-rĩ, nũũ ũngĩhota kũmĩrigĩrĩria? Njamba iria ingĩmĩenda, itingĩĩnogia ikĩmĩcaria; mweri wayo wakinya, nĩikamĩona.
An untrained ass, used to the waste land, breathing up the wind in her desire; at her time, who is able to send her away? all those who are looking for her will have no need to make themselves tired; in her month they will get her.
25 Tiga kũhanyũka nginya ũthirĩrwo nĩ iraatũ magũrũ, naguo mũmero waku ũngʼare. No wee ũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Hatirĩ bata! nĩnyendete ngai cia kũngĩ, na no nginya ndĩciume thuutha.’
Do not let your foot be without shoes, or your throat dry from need of water: but you said, There is no hope: no, for I have been a lover of strange gods, and after them I will go.
26 “O ta ũrĩa mũici aconorithagio aanyiitwo, ũguo no taguo nyũmba ĩno ya Isiraeli ĩconorithĩtio: o ene, na athamaki ao, na anene ao, na athĩnjĩri-Ngai ao, na anabii ao.
As the thief is shamed when he is taken, so is Israel shamed; they, their kings and their rulers, their priests and their prophets;
27 Meeraga mũtĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Wee nĩwe Baba,’ na makeera ihiga atĩrĩ, ‘Wee nĩwe wanjiarire.’ Nĩmahutatĩire, makaaga kũnyonia mothiũ mao; no rĩrĩa marĩ thĩĩna-inĩ manjĩĩraga atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtũhonokie!’
Who say to a tree, You are my father; and to a stone, You have given me life: for their backs have been turned to me, not their faces: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Up! and be our saviour.
28 Ikĩrĩ kũ ngai icio mwethondekeire? Kĩrekei ciũke, aakorwo no imũhonokie rĩrĩa mũrĩ thĩĩna-inĩ! Nĩgũkorwo ngai ciaku cingĩhĩte o ta matũũra maku, wee Juda.
But where are the gods you have made for yourselves? let them come, if they are able to give you salvation in the time of your trouble: for the number of your gods is as the number of your towns, O Judah.
29 “Mũgũkĩndũithia nĩ ũndũ kĩ? Inyuothe nĩmũũnemeire,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Why will you put forward your cause against me? You have all done evil against me, says the Lord.
30 “Nĩ wĩra wa tũhũ ndaarutire ngĩherithia andũ anyu; matiigana kũigua maakaanio magarũrũke. Rũhiũ rwaku rwa njora nĩrũniinĩte anabii anyu, o ta mũrũũthi ũrĩa mũrĩĩani.
I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion.
31 “Atĩrĩrĩ, inyuĩ andũ a rũciaro rũrũ, mwĩcũraniei wega ũhoro wa ndũmĩrĩri ĩno ya Jehova: “Kaĩ nduĩkĩte ta werũ harĩ Isiraeli, kana ta bũrũri ũrĩ nduma nene? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmaga andũ akwa moige atĩrĩ, ‘Ithuĩ tũrĩĩkaga ũrĩa tũkwenda; tũtigagũcookerera rĩngĩ’?
O generation, see the word of the Lord. Have I been a waste land to Israel? or a land of dark night? why do my people say, We have got loose, we will not come to you again?
32 Rĩu-rĩ, mũirĩtu ahota kũriganĩrwo nĩ mathaga make ma kwĩgemia, kana mũhiki ariganĩrwo nĩ nguo ciake cia ũhiki? No rĩrĩ, andũ akwa nĩmariganĩirwo nĩ niĩ, matukũ maingĩ matangĩtarĩka.
Is it possible for a virgin to put out of her memory her ornaments, or a bride her robes? but my people have put me out of their memories for unnumbered days.
33 Kaĩ nĩ ũrĩ ũũgĩ mũingĩ rĩrĩa ũgũcaria wendo-ĩ! Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o na atumia arĩa aaganu mũno no merute na mĩthiĩre yaku.
With what care are your ways ordered when you are looking for love! so ... your ways.
34 Nguo-inĩ ciaku-rĩ, andũ nĩmoonaga thakame ya athĩĩni arĩa matarĩ ũũru mekĩte, o na aakorwo ndwamanyiitire magĩtua nyũmba. No rĩrĩ, o na gũtariĩ ũguo
And in the skirts of your robe may be seen the life-blood of those who have done no wrong: ...
35 wee uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndirĩ ũndũ mũũru njĩkĩte; we ndandaakarĩire.’ No niĩ nĩngũgũtuĩra ciira, tondũ uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndiĩhĩtie.’
And still you said, I have done no wrong; truly, his wrath is turned away from me. See, I will take up the cause against you, because you say, I have done no wrong.
36 Ũriũngariũngaga nĩkĩ, ũkĩgarũraga mĩthiĩre yaku? Nĩũgaconorithio nĩ bũrũri wa Misiri, o ta ũrĩa waconorithirio nĩ Ashuri.
Why do you go about so much for the purpose of changing your way? you will be shamed on account of Egypt, as you were shamed on account of Assyria.
37 Ũgaacooka uume kũndũ kũu ũigĩrĩire moko mũtwe, nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩaregete acio wĩhokete, o matigagũteithia.
Truly, you will go out from him with your hands on your head: for the Lord has given up those in whom you have put your faith, and they will be of no help to you.

< Jeremia 2 >