Jeremia 4
1 “Atĩrĩrĩ wee Isiraeli, ũngĩkorwo nĩũgũcooka-rĩ, njookerera,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga. “Ũngĩeheria mĩhianano ĩyo yaku ĩrĩ magigi, na ũtige gũcooka kũũrũũra rĩngĩ,
Yahweh says, “You Israeli [people], come back to me! If you get rid of those detestable idols and do not turn away from me [again],
2 ningĩ ũngĩrũmia ũhoro wa ma, na ũtuanĩri ciira wa kĩhooto, na wa ũthingu, na wĩhĩte ũkiugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa Jehova atũũraga muoyo,’ hĩndĩ ĩyo ndũrĩrĩ nĩikarathimwo nĩwe, na thĩinĩ wake nĩikaagĩa na riiri.”
and if you declare, ‘Just as surely as Yahweh lives, what he says is true,’ and if you [start to] always say what is true and act justly/fairly and righteously, then the [people in the other] nations [of the world] will request that I bless them [as I have blessed you], and they will [all come and] honor/praise me.”
3 Atĩrĩrĩ, Jehova areera andũ a Juda, o na andũ a Jerusalemu ũũ: “Cimbai mĩgũnda yanyu ĩrĩa ĩrĩ ngamba, na mũtikahaande irio mĩigua-inĩ.
This is what Yahweh says to the people of Jerusalem and [the other cities in] Judah: “[Prepare yourselves to receive my messages] like farmers plow up hard ground [in order that they can plant seed in it]. Just as farmers do not [waste good seed by] sowing seeds among thorny plants, [I do not want to waste my time telling you messages that you are not ready to receive].
4 Mwĩamũrĩrei Jehova, na ũndũ wa kũruithia ngoro cianyu inyuĩ andũ aya a Juda, na inyuĩ mũtũũraga Jerusalemu, nĩgeetha mangʼũrĩ makwa matigaakane ta mwaki, nĩ ũndũ wa ũũru ũrĩa mwĩkĩte, maakane mage mũndũ wa kũmahoria.
Purify your inner beings and your minds for me. If you do not do that, my being angry with you [MTY] because of [all] the sins that you have committed will be like a fire that will be impossible to extinguish.”
5 “Anĩrĩrai kũu Juda, na mũhunjie ũhoro kũu Jerusalemu, muuge ũũ: ‘Huhai tũrumbeta bũrũri-inĩ guothe!’ Anĩrĩrai na kayũ muuge atĩrĩ: ‘Mwĩcookanĩrĩriei! Nĩtũũrĩrei matũũra-inĩ marĩa manene mairigĩre!’
“Declare this [DOU] to [all the people in] Jerusalem and [the rest of] Judea; blow the trumpets everywhere in the land [to warn the people]. Tell them that they should flee to the cities that have high walls around them.
6 Haandai bendera mũthiĩ mwerekeire Zayuni! Mwĩtharei narua mwĩhonokie! Nĩgũkorwo nĩndĩrarehithia mwanangĩko uumĩte mwena wa gathigathini, o na kũniinanwo kũnene.”
Shout to the people of Jerusalem, ‘Run away [now]! Do not delay, because I am about to cause you to experience a terrible disaster [DOU] that will come from the north.
7 Mũrũũthi nĩumĩte kĩmamo-inĩ kĩaguo; mũniinani wa kũniina ndũrĩrĩ nĩoimagarĩte. Oimĩte gwake oke aanange bũrũri waku. Matũũra maku makaanangĩka, mage mũndũ wa gũtũũra kuo.
[An army] that has destroyed [many] nations will attack you [like] [MET] a lion that comes out of its den [to attack other animals]. [The soldiers of that army] have taken down their tents and they are ready to march toward your land. They will destroy your cities and leave them without any people still living in them.’
8 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, mwĩhumbei nguo cia makũnia, cakayai na mũrĩre, nĩ ũndũ tũtirĩ tũrehererwo nĩ mangʼũrĩ macio mahiũ ma Jehova.
So, put on sackcloth/rough clothes and weep and beat your chests [to show that you are very sorry for what you have done], because Yahweh is still very angry with us.
9 Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ, “Mũthenya ũcio-rĩ, mũthamaki na anene ake nĩmagakua ngoro, nao athĩnjĩri-Ngai nĩmakagegeara, nao anabii mamake.”
Yahweh said that at the time [he punishes you], the King of Judah and [all his] officials will be very afraid. The priests and the prophets will be terrified.
10 Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngiuga atĩrĩ: “Hĩ! Mwathani Jehova, ti-itherũ nĩ ta ũkĩheenetie andũ aya biũ, o na ũkaheenia Jerusalemu, nĩ ũndũ wa kũmeera atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩmũkaagĩa na thayũ,’ o rĩrĩa tũigĩrĩirwo rũhiũ rwa njora mĩmero.”
Then I replied, “Yahweh [my] God, you completely deceived the people by telling them that there would be peace in Jerusalem, but now [our enemies] [PRS] are ready to slaughter us with their swords!”
11 Ihinda rĩu andũ aya o hamwe na Jerusalemu nĩmakeerwo atĩrĩ, “Rũhuho rũhiũ ruumĩte kũndũ kũrĩa gũtarĩ kĩndũ kũu gũtũũgĩru werũ-inĩ nĩrũkahurutana rwerekeire kũrĩ andũ akwa, no rĩrĩ, ti ta rũrĩa rwa kũhuha irio kana rwa gũcitheria;
When that happens, [Yahweh] will say to the people of Jerusalem, [“A huge army will come to attack you]. They will not [be like a gentle breeze that] separates wheat from chaff. [They will be like] a very hot wind [that blows in] from the desert [MET].
12 nĩ rũhuho rũrĩ na hinya kũrĩ rũu ruumĩte kũrĩ niĩ. Rĩu nĩngũmatuĩra matuĩro ma ciira.”
[They will be like] [MET] a strong blast that I will send. Now I am declaring that I will punish/destroy you.”
13 Ta rorai muone! Mũndũ ũcio aroka ta matu, ngaari ciake cia ita irooka ta kĩhuhũkanio, nacio mbarathi ciake ihanyũkaga gũkĩra nderi. Ĩiya witũ-ĩ! Tũrĩ aniine biũ.
[Our enemies] are about to rush down on us; their chariots are like [SIM] whirlwinds. Their horses are faster than eagles. It will be terrible for us!
14 Wee Jerusalemu-rĩ, theria ũũru kuuma ngoro-inĩ yaku nĩguo ũhonoke. Ũgũtũũra ũthugundaga ũũru meciiria-inĩ maku nginya-rĩ?
[You people of] Jerusalem [APO], purify your hearts/inner beings, in order that Yahweh will rescue you. How long will you continue to think about [doing] evil things?
15 Nĩ kũrĩ na mũgambo wa mũndũ ũranĩrĩra kũu Dani, ũkaanĩrĩra ũhoro wa mwanangĩko kũu irĩma-inĩ cia Efiraimu.
From Dan [city in the far north] to the hills of Ephraim [a few miles/kilometers north of Jerusalem] messengers are proclaiming that disasters are coming.
16 “Ĩrai ndũrĩrĩ ũhoro ũcio, hunjĩriai Jerusalemu muuge atĩrĩ: ‘Ita inene rĩa gũgũũkĩrĩra nĩrĩroka riumĩte bũrũri wa kũraya, na rĩroka na mbugĩrĩrio ya mbaara ya gũũkĩrĩra matũũra mothe manene ma Juda.
Tell this to the [people in other] nations [but also] announce it in Jerusalem: [Yahweh says], “An army is coming to Jerusalem from far away; they will shout [a battle-cry] against the cities in Judah.
17 Marĩrigiicĩirie o ta andũ marangĩire mũgũnda, tondũ itũũra rĩu nĩrĩnemeire, rĩkanjũkĩrĩra,’” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
They will set up tents around Jerusalem like people set up temporary shelters [SIM] around a field [at harvest time]. That will happen because the people of Judah have rebelled against me.
18 “Mĩthiĩre yaku mwene na ciĩko ciaku nĩcio ikũreheire maũndũ macio. Rĩĩrĩ nĩrĩo iherithia rĩaku. Na kaĩ nĩ irũrũ-ĩ! Kaĩ nĩrĩgũtheeca ngoro-ĩ!”
You will be punished very severely; it will [be as though a sword] has stabbed your inner beings. But you are causing those things to happen to you because of the evil things that you have done.”
19 Wũi, ruo-ĩ, wũi ruo-ĩ! Ndĩrenyogonda nĩ ruo. Wũi, ruo rũnene ngoro-inĩ yakwa-ĩ! Ngoro yakwa nĩĩratumatuuma, ndingĩhota gũkirĩrĩria. Nĩgũkorwo nĩnjiguĩte mũgambo wa karumbeta; nĩnjiguĩte mbugĩrĩrio ya mbaara.
I am extremely anguished/sad; the pain in my inner being is very severe. My heart beats wildly. But I cannot remain silent because I have heard [our enemies] blowing their trumpets to announce that the battle [against Judah will start immediately].
20 Mwanangĩko ũrarũmanĩrĩra na mwanangĩko; bũrũri wothe nĩwanangĩtwo. O rĩmwe hema ciakwa nĩthũkangie, o kahinda gatarĩ cooho kĩĩgitio gĩakwa gĩgathũkangio.
Disasters will occur one after another until the whole land is ruined. Suddenly [all] our tents will be destroyed; [even] the curtains [inside the tents] will be ripped apart.
21 Nĩ nginya rĩ ngũtũũra nyonaga bendera ya mbaara, na ngaigua mũgambo wa karumbeta?
How long will this battle continue? How long will I continue to see the enemy battle flags and hear the sound of their trumpets being blown?
22 “Andũ akwa nĩ irimũ; matinjũũĩ. Nĩ ciana iteciiragia, na ikaaga ũmenyo. Ũũgĩ ũrĩa marĩ naguo no wa gwĩka ũũru; matiũĩ gwĩka wega.”
[Yahweh says], “My people are [very] foolish! They do not have a relationship with me. They are [like] [MET] stupid children who do not understand [anything]. They very cleverly do what is wrong, but they do not know how to do what is good.”
23 Ndaacũthĩrĩirie thĩ, ngĩkĩona atĩ ndĩarĩ ũrĩa yatariĩ na ndĩarĩ na kĩndũ; ningĩ ngĩcũthĩrĩria matu-inĩ, ngĩona atĩ gũtiarĩ na ũtheri.
[God gave me a vision in which] I saw that the earth was barren and without form. I looked at the sky, and there was no light there.
24 Ndaacũthĩrĩria irĩma, ngĩona atĩ nĩgũthingitha ciathingithaga; natuo tũrĩma tuothe nĩ kwereera twereeraga.
I looked at the mountains and hills, and they shook and moved from side to side.
25 Ngĩcũthĩrĩria, ngĩona atĩ gũtiarĩ na andũ; nyoni ciothe cia rĩera-inĩ nĩciombũkĩte ikoora.
I looked and saw that there were no [more] people, and all the birds had flown away.
26 Ngĩcũthĩrĩria, ngĩona bũrũri ũrĩa waciaraga maciaro maingĩ, watuĩkĩte o werũ mũtheri, matũũra makuo mothe nĩmamomokeire hau mbere ya Jehova, makagũa thĩ nĩ ũndũ wa marakara make mahiũ.
I looked and saw that the fields that previously were fertile had become a desert. The cities were all ruined; they had all been destroyed by Yahweh because he was extremely angry.
27 Ũũ nĩguo Jehova ekuuga: “Bũrũri wothe nĩũkanangwo, o na gũtuĩka ndikaũniina biũ.
This is what Yahweh is saying: “The entire land [of Judah] will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely.
28 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio thĩ nĩĩgacakaya, narĩo igũrũ rĩgĩe nduma, tondũ ũguo nĩguo njugĩte, na ndingĩĩricũkwo. Nĩnduĩte itua na ndikũgarũrũka.”
I will do to my people what I said that I would do, and I will not change my mind. So [when that happens, it will be as though] the earth will mourn and the sky will become very dark.”
29 Rĩrĩa kwaiguuo mũrurumo wa andũ arĩa mathiiaga mahaicĩte mbarathi na wa andũ arĩa maikagia mĩguĩ-rĩ, andũ a matũũra mothe no makoora. Amwe ao makoorĩra ihinga-inĩ, nao amwe ao makahaica ndwaro-inĩ cia mahiga. Matũũra macio mothe nĩmathaamĩtwo; gũtirĩ mũndũ ũikaraga kuo.
[When the people hear] the sound of the [enemy] army marching, [they will be terrified as] they flee from their cities. Some of them will find places to hide in the bushes, and others will run toward the mountains/hills [to escape being killed by their enemies]. All the cities [in Judah] will be abandoned; not one person will remain in them.
30 Ũreka atĩa, wee ũnũhĩtwo? Ũkwĩhumba nguo ndune na ũkegemia na mathaga ma thahabu nĩkĩ? Ũrahaka mbutu ciaku cia maitho rangi nĩkĩ? Atĩrĩrĩ, kwĩgemia gwaku no gwa tũhũ. Endwa aku nĩmakwagĩire bata; rĩu maracaria ũrĩa mangĩkũruta muoyo.
So you who will surely be destroyed, [why are you doing the things that you are doing now]? Why are you wearing beautiful clothes and jewelry? Why are you putting paint around your eyes? Doing those things will not help you, because the people [in other countries that you think] love you [actually] despise you, and they will try to kill you.
31 Nĩndĩraigua kĩrĩro ta kĩa mũndũ-wa-nja akĩrũmwo, arĩ na mũcaayo ta wa mũtumia agĩciara mwana wake wa irigithathi: nĩ kĩrĩro kĩa Mwarĩ wa Zayuni agĩteeha, atambũrũkĩtie moko make, akiugaga atĩrĩ, “Wũi-ĩ-iya-wakwa-ĩ! Nĩndĩraringĩka; muoyo wakwa nĩmũneane kũrĩ oragani.”
[It is as though] I already hear [the people in Jerusalem] crying very loudly, like [SIM] a woman cries when she is giving birth to her first child; she gasps for breath and pleads for someone to help her. [It is as though Jerusalem] is crying, “Something terrible is happening to me! They are about to murder me!”
