< 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 call out before the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus hath said the Lord, I remember unto thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thy espousals, thy going after me in the wilderness, through a land that is not sown.
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.
A holy thing is Israel unto the Lord, the first of his fruits: all that devour him shall incur guilt; evil shall come over them, saith the Lord.
4 Thikĩrĩriai mũigue ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Jakubu, inyuĩ inyuothe andũ a mĩhĩrĩga yothe ya nyũmba ya Isiraeli.
Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye families of the house 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.
Thus hath said the Lord, What fault did your fathers find in me, that they went away far from me, and walked after vanity, and became vain?
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?’
That they said not, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of wildness, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land through which no one had passed, and where no man had dwelt?
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 brought you into the land of fruitful fields, to eat its fruit and its goodly products; but ye came and ye made unclean my land, and my heritage ye rendered an abomination.
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 said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied in the name of Ba'al, and after things that cannot profit did they walk.
9 “Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩngũmũciirithia o rĩngĩ,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga. “Ningĩ nĩngaciirithia ciana cia ciana cianyu.
Therefore will I contend yet farther with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.
10 Ringai mũthiĩ hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Kitimu mũkerorere, ningĩ mũtũmane gũthiio Kedari gũgatuĩrio wega, muone kana kũrĩ kuoneka ũndũ ta ũyũ:
For pass over to the isles of the Chittites, and see; and unto Kedar send, and consider well and see if any thing like this hath happened.
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.
Hath a nation exchanged its gods, which are yet no gods? and [still] my people hath exchanged its glory for that which can not profit.
12 Inyuĩ igũrũ-rĩ, makaai nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio, inainai mũrĩ na kĩeha kĩnene,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and let your hair stand at an end, be ye greatly terrified, saith 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 two evils have my people committed: me have they forsaken, the source of living waters, to hew out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
14 Rĩu-rĩ, anga Isiraeli nĩ ndungata, o mũndũ ũciarĩirwo ũkombo-inĩ? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte atuĩke mũndũ wa gũtahwo?
Is Israel a servant? or one born [to servitude] in the house? why hath he been given up to plunder?
15 Mĩrũũthi nĩĩraramĩte; nĩĩmũraramĩire. Nĩyanangĩte bũrũri wake; matũũra make macinĩtwo na mwaki, na magatigwo matarĩ mũndũ.
[That] over him young lions roared, let their voice resound, and changed his land into a waste, that his cities are burnt, left without an inhabitant?
16 O na andũ a Memufisi, na a Tahapanahesi nĩmagũtiihĩtie, magagwĩkĩra rũhara ruototia rwa mũtwe.
Even the children of Noph and Thachpanches have crushed the crown of thy head.
17 Githĩ tiwe mwene wĩrehereire maũndũ maya nĩ ũndũ wa gũtirika Jehova Ngai waku, o rĩrĩa we aagũtongoragia na njĩra ĩrĩa wageraga?
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, through thy forsaking the Lord thy God, while he was leading thee on the [right] 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 hast thou to do on the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shichor? and what hast thou to do on the way of Asshur, to drink 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.
Thy own wickedness shall chastise thee, and thy backslidings shall correct thee; and thou shalt know and see that evil and bitter was thy forsaking the Lord thy God, while the dread of me was not upon thee, saith the Lord Eternal of hosts.
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.
Because from yore did I break thy yoke, did I burst asunder thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress: nevertheless upon every high hill and under every green tree thou makest thy bed, as harlot.
21 Niĩ ndaakũhaandĩte ũrĩ ta mũthabibũ mũthuuranĩre wa mũthemba ũrĩa mwega. Wagĩcookire kũngarũrũka atĩa, ũgĩthũka, ũgĩtuĩka ta mũthabibũ wa gĩthaka?
Yet I had planted thee as a branch of a noble vine, wholly of the proper seed; but how art thou changed unto me into a degenerate plant of an ignoble 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 though thou wash thyself with natron, and take for thyself much soap: yet would the stain of thy iniquity remain before me, saith the Lord Eternal.
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 canst thou say, I am not become unclean, after the Be'alim have I not gone? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [like] a swift dromedary bound fast to her ways;
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.
[Like] a wild ass used to the wilderness, that at her pleasure snuffeth up the wind; her lust—who can turn this away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month will they find 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.’
“Prevent thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from being thirsty;” but thou saidst, It is useless; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I 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 ashamed when he is found, so have the house of Israel been made ashamed, they, their kings, their princes, and 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 the wood, Thou art my father; and to the stone, Thou hast brought us forth; for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their misfortune will they say, Arise, and save us.
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 then thy gods that thou hast made for thyself? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy misfortune; for equal to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah.
29 “Mũgũkĩndũithia nĩ ũndũ kĩ? Inyuothe nĩmũũnemeire,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Wherefore will ye contend with me? all of you have transgressed against me, saith 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.
To no purpose have I smitten your children; correction they accepted not: your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying 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 [present] generation, regard ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of deep darkness? wherefore say my people, We wander about; we cannot come any more unto thee?
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.
Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her decorations? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 Kaĩ nĩ ũrĩ ũũgĩ mũingĩ rĩrĩa ũgũcaria wendo-ĩ! Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o na atumia arĩa aaganu mũno no merute na mĩthiĩre yaku.
Why ornamentest thou thy way to seek for love? truly even the worst hast thou used thyself as thy 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
Also on thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent needy ones: not while breaking in [thy house] didst thou find them; but for all these things.
35 wee uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndirĩ ũndũ mũũru njĩkĩte; we ndandaakarĩire.’ No niĩ nĩngũgũtuĩra ciira, tondũ uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndiĩhĩtie.’
Yet thou sayest, Yea, I am innocent, surely his anger is already turned away from me. Behold, I will hold judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
36 Ũriũngariũngaga nĩkĩ, ũkĩgarũraga mĩthiĩre yaku? Nĩũgaconorithio nĩ bũrũri wa Misiri, o ta ũrĩa waconorithirio nĩ Ashuri.
Why makest thou thyself so very low to change thy way? also because of Egypt shalt thou be made ashamed, as thou wast put to shame because of Assyria.
37 Ũgaacooka uume kũndũ kũu ũigĩrĩire moko mũtwe, nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩaregete acio wĩhokete, o matigagũteithia.
Also from this one shalt thou go forth, with thy hands [clasped] over thy head; for the Lord hath rejected those on whom thou trustest and thou shalt not prosper with them.

< Jeremia 2 >