Jeremaya 6
1 “Gbalaganụ unu ụmụ Benjamin! Sitenụ na Jerusalem gbapụ! Gbuonụ opi ike na Tekoa! Bulienụ ihe ngosi elu na Bet-Hakerem! Nʼihi na lee, ihe ọjọọ si nʼakụkụ ugwu na-abịa, e, mbibi dị ukwuu na-abịa.
“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 Aga m ebibi ada Zayọn, onye mara ezi mma, na onye dịkwa pekepeke.
Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.
3 Ndị na-azụ atụrụ ga-eduru igwe atụrụ bịa megide ya. Ha ga-ama ụlọ ikwu ha gburugburu ya. Onye ọbụla nʼime ha ga-elekọtazi akụkụ ala nke o ketara anya nke ọma.
[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 “Jikerenụ ibu agha megide ya! Bilienụ, ka anyị buso ha agha nʼehihie. Ma lee, anyanwụ ebidola ịda, onyinyo anyasị na-esetipụkwa onwe ya.
[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 Ya mere, bilienụ ka anyị buso ha agha, ọ bụladị nʼabalị! Ka anyị bibie ebe ha niile e wusiri ike!”
we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”
6 Ihe ndị a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile, kwuru, “Gbutusienụ osisi niile, wuonụ nkwasa ọgụ gburugburu Jerusalem. A ghaghị ịta obodo a ahụhụ, nʼihi na mmegbu jupụtara nʼime ya.
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 Dịka mmiri si esite nʼolulu mmiri na-asọpụta otu a ka ajọ omume na-esite nʼime ya na-asọpụta. Ihe ike na mbibi ka a na-anụ nʼime ya; ọrịa ya niile na ọnya ya niile ka a na-eche nʼihu m oge niile.
[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 Nabata ịdọ aka na ntị m, gị Jerusalem, ka m ghara ịgbakụta gị azụ, mee ka ala gị tọgbọrọ nʼefu, ka mmadụ ọbụla hapụkwa inwe ike ibi nʼime ya.”
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 Nke a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru, “Ka ha tụtụkọtasịa ndị niile fọdụrụ nʼala Izrel nke ọma, dịka e si atụtụkọta mkpụrụ niile dị nʼosisi vaịnị; werenụ aka chọgharịa nʼalaka niile, dịka onye ọghọ mkpụrụ vaịnị si eme.”
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 Ma onye kwanụ ka m nwere ike ịgwa okwu ma dọọ aka na ntị? Onye ga-ege ntị ịnụrụ ihe m na-ekwu? Ntị ha emechiela ruo na ha enweghị ike ịnụ ihe ọbụla. Okwu Onyenwe anyị aghọọla ihe ha na-achọghị ịnụ ọzọ; nke na-adịghị ewetara ha obi ụtọ.
[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 Ma ọnụma Onyenwe anyị juru m obi, apụghị m ịnagide ya nʼime m. “Wụkwasị ya nʼahụ ụmụntakịrị ndị nọ nʼokporoụzọ; wụkwasịkwa ya ụmụ okorobịa ebe ha zukọrọ. Ọ bụladị di na nwunye ga-anụrụ ụfụ ọnụma ahụ, ndị agadi na ndị ahụ merela nnọọ ezigbo agadi.
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 A ga-ewere ụlọ ha nyefee nʼaka ndị ọzọ. A ga-ewerekwa ala ubi ha na ndị nwunye ha nye ndị ọzọ, mgbe m setịpụrụ aka m megide ndị ahụ bi nʼala ahụ.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
[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 “Nʼihi na site nʼonye ukwu ruo nʼonye dịkarịsịrị nta, ọ bụ naanị akpịrị uru na-ezighị ezi ka e ji mara ha. Ọ bụladị ndị amụma na ndị nchụaja na-etinyekwa aka nʼọrụ aghụghọ.
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 Ha na-ekechi ọnya ndị m, dịka a ga-asị na ọ dịghị ihe ọ bụ. Ha na-asị, ‘Udo dị, udo dị,’ mgbe udo na-adịghị.
[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 O nwere ụzọ omume ha ndị a rụrụ arụ si eme ha ihere? Mba! Ihere adịghị eme ha ma ọlị. Nʼezie, ha amakwaghị ihe a na-akpọ inwe ihere! Nʼihi ya, ha ga-ada nʼetiti ndị dara ada. Ha ga-asọ ngọngọ mgbe m tara ha ahụhụ.” Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru.
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 Ihe ndị a kwa bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Guzonụ nʼebe niile ụzọ gbara abụọ. Lee anya. Jụọnụ ajụjụ banyere okporoụzọ ochie ahụ. Jụpụtanụ ebe ụzọ ọma ahụ dị, jeenụ ije nʼime ya. Unu gbaso ya, unu ga-achọtara mkpụrụobi unu ebe izuike. Ma gịnị ka unu kwuru? Unu sịrị. ‘Anyị agaghị agbaso ụzọ ọma ahụ.’
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 Ahọpụtara m ndị nche doo ha ichebe unu. Agwakwara m unu okwu sị, ‘Ṅaanụ ntị nʼụda opi ike ha.’ Ma unu kwuru sị, ‘Anyị agaghị ege ntị!’
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 Ya mere, nụrụnụ, unu mba niile; lezienụ anya, unu ndị akaebe niile, ka unu hụrụ ihe na-aga ịbịakwasị ha.
Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].
19 Nụrụ, gị ụwa, lee, ana m aga iwetara ndị a ịla nʼiyi, nke bụ mkpụrụ atụmatụ ọjọọ ha niile, nʼihi na ha jụrụ ige ntị nʼokwu m. Ha jụkwara ịnabatara onwe ha iwu m.
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 Gịnị ka m ji ihe nsure ọkụ na-esi isi ụtọ nke unu si nʼobodo Sheba bubata, eme? Gịnị ka m ji ụda kalamus ọma unu si mba dị anya bubata eme? Ajụla m ịnabata aja nsure ọkụ unu niile. Aja niile unu na-achụ adịghị atọ m ụtọ.”
[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 Ya mere, ihe ndị a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Aga m etinye ihe ịsọ ngọngọ nʼụzọ ndị a si agafe. Nna na nwa ya ga-asọ ngọngọ nʼelu ya; otu a kwa, ndị agbataobi na enyi ha ga-ala nʼiyi.”
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 Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, “Lee, ndị agha si nʼala dị nʼebe ugwu na-abịa; mba dị ukwuu ka a na-akpọlitekwa site na nsọtụ niile nke ụwa.
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 Ha ji ụta na ùbe, ha bụ ndị afọ tara mmiri, ndị na-adịghị eme obi ebere. Ha na-ebigbọ dịka mbigbọ nke osimiri, dịka ha na-anọkwasị nʼelu ịnyịnya ha. Ha na-abịa dịka ndị ikom e doro nʼusoro ibu agha, ibuso gị agha, Ada Zayọn.”
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 Anyị anụla akụkọ banyere ude ha, ike agwụla aka anyị abụọ kpamkpam. Oke ihe mgbu na-ejide anyị dị ka nke nwanyị ime na-eme.
[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 Ka onye ọbụla gharakwa ịga nʼubi, maọbụ ijegharị nʼokporoụzọ, nʼihi na ndị iro ji mma agha na-agagharị, egwu dịkwa nʼebe niile.
[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 Unu ndị m, yikwasịnụ onwe unu uwe mkpe. Tụrụọnụ onwe unu na ntụ, ruonụ uju, ma kwaanụ akwa, dịka nwanyị na-eru ụjụ nʼihi ọnwụ otu nwa nwoke ọ mụtara. Nʼihi na onye mbibi ahụ ga-abịakwasị anyị na mberede.
[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 “Emeela m gị ka ị bụrụ onye na-anwapụta ọla, ma ọla ahụ bụkwa ndị m. Achọrọ m ka i nyochaa ma nwapụtakwa ụzọ ha niile.
[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 Ha bụ ndị nnupu isi, ndị nwere obi nʼazụ, ndị na-ejegharị na-ekwutọ ibe ha. Ha bụ bronz na igwe; ọ bụkwa ndụ rụrụ arụ ka ha na-ebi.
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 Ngwa ọrụ ọkpụ uzu na-afụnwu ọkụ ike ike, ime ka ọkụ rechapụ akụkụ igwe ahụ na-enweghị isi, ma nnụcha ahụ na-aga nʼihu abaghị uru, nʼihi na anụchapụghị ndị ajọ omume.
[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 Ọlaọcha a jụrụ ajụ ka akpọrọ ha, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ajụla ha.”
[I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”
