< Jeremia 2 >

1 Ningĩ ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova nĩyanginyĩrire, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
The word of Yahweh 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 proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, 'Yahweh says this: I have called to mind on your behalf the covenant faithfulness in your youthfulness, your love at the time when we were engaged, when you went after me in the wilderness, the land that was 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.
Israel was set apart to Yahweh, the firstfruits of his harvest! All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty; disaster came upon them—this is Yahweh's declaration.'”
4 Thikĩrĩriai mũigue ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Jakubu, inyuĩ inyuothe andũ a mĩhĩrĩga yothe ya nyũmba ya Isiraeli.
Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob, all you clans 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.
Yahweh says this, “What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they went far from following me? That they went after useless idols and became useless themselves?
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?’
They did not say, 'Where is Yahweh, who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is Yahweh, who led us to the wilderness, into the land of the Arabah and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?'
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.
But I brought you to the land of Carmel, to eat its fruit and other good things! Yet when you came, you defiled my land, you made my inheritance 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 priest did not say, 'Where is Yahweh?' and the experts in the law did not care about me! The shepherds transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied for Baal and walked after unprofitable things.
9 “Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩngũmũciirithia o rĩngĩ,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga. “Ningĩ nĩngaciirithia ciana cia ciana cianyu.
So I will still accuse you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will accuse your sons' sons.
10 Ringai mũthiĩ hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Kitimu mũkerorere, ningĩ mũtũmane gũthiio Kedari gũgatuĩrio wega, muone kana kũrĩ kuoneka ũndũ ta ũyũ:
For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look. Send messengers out to Kedar and find out and see if there has ever before been anything like this.
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 a nation exchanged gods, even though they were not gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what cannot help them.
12 Inyuĩ igũrũ-rĩ, makaai nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio, inainai mũrĩ na kĩeha kĩnene,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
Shudder, heavens, because of this! Be shocked and horrified—this is Yahweh's declaration.
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 committed two evils against me: They have abandoned the springs of living waters, and they have dug out cisterns for themselves, 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 slave? Was he born in his master's home? So why has he become plunder?
15 Mĩrũũthi nĩĩraramĩte; nĩĩmũraramĩire. Nĩyanangĩte bũrũri wake; matũũra make macinĩtwo na mwaki, na magatigwo matarĩ mũndũ.
Young lions roared against him. They made a lot of noise and made his land a horror. His cities are destroyed without any inhabitants.
16 O na andũ a Memufisi, na a Tahapanahesi nĩmagũtiihĩtie, magagwĩkĩra rũhara ruototia rwa mũtwe.
Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes will shave your skull.
17 Githĩ tiwe mwene wĩrehereire maũndũ maya nĩ ũndũ wa gũtirika Jehova Ngai waku, o rĩrĩa we aagũtongoragia na njĩra ĩrĩa wageraga?
Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your God, while he was leading you along 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?
So now, why take the road to Egypt and drink the waters of Shihor? Why take the road to Assyria and drink the waters of the Euphrates 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.
Your wickedness rebukes you, and your faithlessness punishes you. So think about it and understand that it is wicked and bitter when you forsake Yahweh your God, and have no fear of me—this is the declaration of Lord Yahweh 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.
For I broke your yoke that you had in ancient days; I tore your fetters off you. Still you said, 'I will not serve!' since you bowed down on every high hill and beneath every leafy tree, you adulterer.
21 Niĩ ndaakũhaandĩte ũrĩ ta mũthabibũ mũthuuranĩre wa mũthemba ũrĩa mwega. Wagĩcookire kũngarũrũka atĩa, ũgĩthũka, ũgĩtuĩka ta mũthabibũ wa gĩthaka?
I planted you as a choice vine, completely from pure seed. How then have you have changed yourself into a corrupt, worthless 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 clean yourself in the river or wash with strong soap, your iniquity is a stain before me—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
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 can you say, 'I am not defiled! I have not walked after the Baals'? Look at what you did in the valleys! Consider what you have done—you are a swift female camel running here and there,
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.
a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None of the males need wear themselves out pursuing her; at mating time they will 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.’
You must restrain your feet from becoming bare and your throat from being thirsty! But you have said, 'It is hopeless! No, I love strangers and go after them!'
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.
Like the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel will be ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and 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!’
These are the ones who say to the tree, 'You are my father,' and to the stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For their back faces me and not their faces. Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles, '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.
Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles, for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!
29 “Mũgũkĩndũithia nĩ ũndũ kĩ? Inyuothe nĩmũũnemeire,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
So why do you accuse me of doing wrong? All of you have sinned against me—this is Yahweh's declaration.
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 have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive 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’?
You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of deep darkness? Why would my people say, 'Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore'?
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.
Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her veils? Yet my people have forgotten me for 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.
How well you make your way to look for love. You have even taught your ways to wicked women.
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
The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people has been found on your clothes. These people were not discovered in acts of burglary.
35 wee uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndirĩ ũndũ mũũru njĩkĩte; we ndandaakarĩire.’ No niĩ nĩngũgũtuĩra ciira, tondũ uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndiĩhĩtie.’
Yet you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned away from me.' But look! I will bring down judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36 Ũriũngariũngaga nĩkĩ, ũkĩgarũraga mĩthiĩre yaku? Nĩũgaconorithio nĩ bũrũri wa Misiri, o ta ũrĩa waconorithirio nĩ Ashuri.
Why do you treat so very lightly this change in your ways? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were by Assyria.
37 Ũgaacooka uume kũndũ kũu ũigĩrĩire moko mũtwe, nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩaregete acio wĩhokete, o matigagũteithia.
You will also go out from there dejected, with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted, so you will not be helped by them.”

< Jeremia 2 >