Jeremia 6
1 “Mwĩtharei mwĩhonokie, inyuĩ andũ a Benjamini! Mwĩtharei muume Jerusalemu! Huhai karumbeta mũrĩ kũu Tekoa! Ĩkĩrai kĩmenyithia kũu Bethi-Hakeremu! Nĩgũkorwo ũũru nĩũũkĩte uumĩte na mwena wa gathigathini, na nĩ ũũru wa kũniinanwo kũnene mũno.
“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.
2 Nĩngananga Mwarĩ wa Zayuni, o ũcio mũthaka na mwĩbacĩrĩri mũno.
Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.
3 Arĩithi marĩ na ndũũru ciao cia mbũri nĩmagooka nĩguo mamũũkĩrĩre; nĩmakaamba hema ciao imũthiũrũrũkĩirie mĩena yothe, o mũndũ o mũndũ akarangĩra handũ hake.”
[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.
4 “Mwĩhaarĩriei tũrũe nake! Arahũkai, rekei tũmũtharĩkĩre mĩaraho! No rĩrĩ, wũi-ĩiya-ĩ! Nĩkũratuka, nacio ciĩruru cia hwaĩ-inĩ nĩiraraiha.
[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,
5 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, arahũkai, tũtharĩkĩre kũrĩ ũtukũ, tũharaganie ciĩgitio ciake iria nũmu!”
we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”
6 Jehova Mwene-Hinya-Wothe ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Temai mĩtĩ mũmĩige ihũba nene ingʼetheire Jerusalemu. Itũũra rĩrĩ inene no nginya rĩherithio; nĩ ũndũ rĩiyũrĩte ũhoro wa kũhinyanĩrĩria.
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.
7 O ta ũrĩa gĩthima gĩtherũkaga maaĩ-rĩ, ũguo noguo itũũra rĩu rĩtherũkaga waganu. Maũndũ ma ũhinya na wanangi no mo maiguagwo kuo; ndwari ciakuo na nguraro nĩcio ndũũraga nyonaga.
[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.
8 Atĩrĩrĩ, wee Jerusalemu, ĩtĩkĩra gũtaarwo, kwaga ũguo nĩngũkũhutatĩra na ndũme bũrũri waku ũkire ihooru, nginya kwage mũndũ ũngĩtũũra kuo.”
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.”
9 Ũũ nĩguo Jehova Mwene-Hinya-Wothe ekuuga: “Atĩrĩrĩ, andũ nĩmarekwo mahaare matigari ma Isiraeli mahinyĩtie, o ta ũrĩa mũthabibũ ũhaaragwo; cookerithia guoko honge-inĩ rĩngĩ, o ta ũrĩa mũcookereria wa thabibũ ekaga.”
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)].”
10 Nũũ ingĩkĩarĩria ndĩmũkaanie na anjigue? Nũũ ũngĩĩthikĩrĩria? Matũ mao nĩmahinge, nĩ ũndũ ũcio matiingĩigua. Ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova nĩĩmahĩtagĩria, na matingĩmĩkenera.
[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.
11 No rĩrĩ, niĩ njiyũrĩtwo nĩ mangʼũrĩ ma Jehova, ndingĩhota kũmahingĩrĩria. “Maitĩrĩrie ciana iria irĩ barabara-inĩ, na ũmaitĩrĩrie aanake arĩa monganĩte hamwe; mũthuuri na mũtumia wake, maitĩkĩrwo nĩmo, o ũndũ ũmwe na andũ arĩa akũrũ, arĩa maingĩhĩtie mĩaka.
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.
12 Nyũmba ciao igaatuĩka cia andũ angĩ, o hamwe na mĩgũnda yao na atumia ao, rĩrĩa ngaatambũrũkia guoko gwakwa njũkĩrĩre andũ arĩa matũũraga bũrũri ũcio,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
[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.
13 “Kuuma ũrĩa mũnini nginya ũrĩa mũnene, othe nĩmakoroketio nĩ kwenda kwĩguna; anabii o hamwe na athĩnjĩri-Ngai, othe nĩmaheenanagia.
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].
14 Mohaga kĩronda kĩa andũ akwa taarĩ kĩronda kĩa andũ matagurarĩtio mũno, makĩmeeraga atĩrĩ: ‘Gwĩ thayũ, gwĩ thayũ,’ o rĩrĩa gũtarĩ thayũ.
[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.
15 Hihi nĩmaconokaga nĩ mũtugo ũcio wao ũrĩ magigi? Aca, maticonokaga o na hanini; o na matirĩ rũkobe. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o nao makaagũanĩra na arĩa makaagũa; nĩmakarũndwo rĩrĩa ngaamaherithia,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
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.”
16 Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Rũgamai magomano-inĩ ma njĩra, mũtuĩrie ũhoro; ũrĩrĩriai njĩra iria ciageragwo tene, mũũrie harĩa njĩra ĩrĩa njega ĩrĩ, nĩguo mũmĩgerere, nacio ngoro cianyu nĩikahurũka. No inyuĩ mũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Ithuĩ tũtikũmĩgerera.’
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!’
17 Nĩndaigire arangĩri nĩguo mamũrangĩre, ngiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Ta thikĩrĩriai karumbeta!’ No inyuĩ mũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Ithuĩ tũtigũthikĩrĩria.’
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.’
18 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, thikĩrĩriai inyuĩ ndũrĩrĩ; rorai wega inyuĩ aira, nĩguo mũmenye ũrĩa gũgekĩka kũrĩ andũ akwa.
Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].
19 Ta thikĩrĩria, wee thĩ: nĩngũrehere andũ aya mwanangĩko, ũrĩ maciaro ma maũndũ marĩa mathugundaga, tondũ nĩmagĩte gũthikĩrĩria ndũmĩrĩri yakwa, na nĩmaregete watho wakwa.
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.
20 Ngĩrĩ na bata ũrĩkũ na ũbumba ũcio wa kuuma Sheba, kana igwa cia mũrĩo cia kuuma bũrũri wa kũraya? Maruta manyu ma njino matingĩĩtĩkĩrĩka; magongona manyu matingenagia.”
[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.
21 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Nĩngwĩkĩra mĩhĩnga mbere ya andũ aya. Maithe na ariũ ao nĩmakahĩngagwo nĩyo; andũ a itũũra hamwe na arata ao nĩmagakua.”
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.”
22 Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Ta rorai muone, nĩ harĩ na ita rĩroka riumĩte bũrũri wa mwena wa gathigathini; rũrĩrĩ rũnene nĩ rwarahũrĩtwo kuuma ituri-inĩ cia thĩ.
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].
23 Manyiitĩte mĩguĩ na matimũ; nĩ andũ ooru matarĩ tha. Mũrurumo wao magĩũka mahaicĩte mbarathi, nĩ ta wa ndiihũ cia iria rĩrĩa inene; maroka mehaarĩirie ta andũ moka mbaara nĩguo magũtharĩkĩre, wee Mwarĩ wa Zayuni.”
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.”
24 Nĩtũiguĩte ũhoro wa andũ acio, namo moko maitũ nĩmorĩtwo nĩ hinya. Nĩtũnyiitĩtwo nĩ ruo rũnene, ruo rũhaana ta rwa mũtumia ũkũrũmwo.
[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.
25 Mũtikoimagare mũthiĩ mĩgũnda, kana mũthiĩ na njĩra, nĩ ũndũ thũ ĩyo ĩrĩ na rũhiũ rwa njora, na kũrĩ na imakania irigiicĩirie mĩena yothe.
[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.’”
26 Inyuĩ andũ akwa, mwĩhumbei nguo ya ikũnia, na mwĩgaragarie mũhu-inĩ; rĩrai na kĩgi, ta ũrĩa mwana wa mũmwe arĩragĩrwo, nĩgũkorwo mwanangi ũcio agaatũhithũkĩra o rĩmwe.
[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].”
27 “Wee nawe nĩngũtuĩte mũgeria wa cuuma, nao andũ akwa matariĩ ta kĩgera, nĩguo wee ũrorage na ũthimage mĩthiĩre yao.
[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.
28 Nĩ aremi momĩtie ngoro, mathiiaga magĩcambanagia. Mahaana o ta gĩcango na kĩgera; othe mekaga maũndũ mathũku mũno.
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.
29 Ihuruti nĩirahurutĩra mwaki na hinya nĩguo ũcine ngocorai, no rĩrĩ, wĩra ũcio ũrarutwo wa kũmatheria no wa tũhũ; arĩa aaganu matirathera.
[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.
30 Andũ acio marĩĩtagwo betha-ĩrĩa-ĩregetwo, nĩ ũndũ Jehova nĩamaregeete.”
[I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”
