< Yeremiya 2 >

1 Ekigambo kya Mukama Katonda ne kinzijira nga kigamba nti,
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 “Genda olangirire nga Yerusaalemi ewulira nti: “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, “‘Nzijukira okwewaayo kwe weewaayo ng’okyali muto, engeri gye wanjagalamu nga twakafumbiriganwa, wangoberera mu ddungu mu nsi etali nnime.
“Go, and cry out to the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the Lord: I have remembered you, taking pity on your youth and on the charity of your betrothal, when you followed me into the desert, into a land which is not sown.
3 Isirayiri wali mutukuvu wa Mukama, ebibala ebibereberye ebyamakungula ge; bonna abaakulyangako nga bazzizza omusango, akabi nga kabatuukako,’” bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
Israel is holy to the Lord, the first of his fruits. All those who devour him commit an offense. Evils will overwhelm them, says the Lord.”
4 Muwulirize ekigambo kya Mukama mwe ezzadde lya Yakobo, era n’ab’enju zonna ez’ebika eby’omu Isirayiri.
Listen to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
5 Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, Kibi ki bakitammwe kye bansangamu ne banvaako ne bagenda ewala ennyo bwe batyo? Baagoberera ebifaananyi bya bakatonda abakole n’emikono ebitaliimu nabo bennyini ne bafuuka ebitaliimu.
Thus says the Lord: “What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they would draw far away from me, and would walk after emptiness, and would become empty?
6 Ne batagamba nako nti; “Ali ludda wa Mukama eyatuggya mu nsi y’e Misiri; eyatuyisa mu lukoola, mu nsi ey’amalungu n’obunnya, mu nsi enkalu n’ekisiikirize eky’okufa, mu nsi omutali muntu n’omu, so n’omuntu yenna mw’atayinza kuyita?”
And they have not said: ‘Where is the Lord, who caused us to ascend from the land of Egypt; who led us through the desert, through an uninhabited and impassable land, through a land of drought and of the image of death, through a land in which no one walked and in which no man lived?’
7 Ne mbaleeta mu nsi engimu, mulye ebibala byamu n’ebintu ebirungi. Naye bwe mwajja ne mwonoona ensi yange, ne mufuula omugabo gwange ekivume.
And I led you into the land of Carmel, so that you would eat from its fruit and from its excellence. And having entered it, you defiled my land, and you turned my inheritance into an abomination.
8 Bakabona ne batabuuzaako nti, “Mukama ali ludda wa?” Abo abakola ku mateeka tebammanya. Abakulembeze ne banjeemera. Bannabbi nga baweereza ku lwa Baali, ne bagoberera ebitagasa.
The priests have not said: ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who held the law did not know me. And the pastors betrayed me. And the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols.
9 “Kyenva nnyongera okubalumiriza,” bw’ayogera Mukama, “Era ndirumiriza n’abaana b’abaana bammwe.
Because of this, I will still contend in judgment against you, says the Lord, and I will dispute with your sons.
10 Muwunguke ennyanja mugende ku bizinga bya Kittimu mulabe; era mutume e Kedali, mwetegereze. Mujja kulaba nga tekibangawo.
Cross over to the isles of Kittim, and gaze. And send to Kedar, and consider diligently. And see if anything like this has ever been done.
11 Waali wabaddewo eggwanga erikyusa bakatonda baalyo, wadde nga si bakatonda, naye nga bitaliimu? Naye abantu bange baawaanyisa ekitiibwa kyabwe n’ebitagasa.
See if a nation has ever changed their gods, though certainly those are not gods. Yet truly, my people have exchanged their glory for an idol.
12 Wewuunye ggwe eggulu, era okankane n’entiisa ey’amaanyi,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Be astonished at this, O heavens, and be utterly desolate, O gates of heaven, says the Lord.
13 “Kubanga abantu bange bakoze ebibi bibiri, banvuddeko nze ensulo ey’amazzi amalamu ne beesimira ettanka ez’omu ttaka, ettanka ez’omu ttaka ezirimu enjatika ezitanyweeramu mazzi.”
For my people have done two evils. They have forsaken me, the Fountain of living water, and they have dug for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that are unable to hold water.
14 “Isirayiri muddu, omuddu omuzaale? Kale lwaki afuuse omuyiggo?
Is Israel a servant, or one born into slavery? Then why has he become a prey?
15 Bamuwulugumirako ng’empologoma bw’ewuluguma, abalabe bawulugumye nnyo. Ensi ye efuuse matongo, ebibuga bye bigyiridde ddala omuliro birekeddwa ttayo, nga temukyali muntu n’omu.
The lions have roared over him, and they have uttered their voice. They have set his land in solitude; his cities have been burned up, and there is no one who lives in them.
16 Ate era abasajja b’e Noofu n’e Tapeneesi bamaliddewo ddala ekitiibwa kyo.
Likewise, the sons of Memphis and of Tahpanhes have defiled you, even to the top of the head.
17 Si ggwe weeretedde bino ng’ova ku Mukama Katonda wo, eyakukulemberanga akulage ekkubo?
Has this not been done to you because you abandoned the Lord your God, in that time when he was leading you by the way?
18 Kaakano olowooza onooganyulwamu ki okugenda okukolagana ne Misiri? Olowooza kiki ky’onoganyulwa bw’onogenda okukolagana ne Bwasuli?
And now what do you want from the way of Egypt, but to drink their turbid water? And what do you want from the way of the Assyrians, but to drink the water of their river?
19 Ebibi byo byennyini bye biri kubonereza, n’okudda kwo emabega kwe kulikusalira omusango. Kale lowooza era otegeere nga bwe kiri ekibi era eky’omutawaana gy’oli bw’ova ku Mukama Katonda wo, n’oba nga tokyantya,” bw’ayogera Mukama, Katonda ow’eggye.
Your own malice will reprove you, and your own apostasy will rebuke you! But know and perceive this: it is an evil and bitter thing for you to forsake the Lord your God, and to be without my fear within you, says the Lord, the God of hosts.
20 Mukama ow’eggye agamba nti, “Isirayiri, ebbanga ddene eriyiseewo bukya weggya mu buyinza bwange, n’ogamba nti, ‘Sijja kukugondera.’ Era ddala, ku buli kasozi era na buli wansi w’omuti oguyimiridde wakuba obwamalaaya ng’ovuunamira bakatonda abalala.
From ancient times, you have broken my yoke; you have torn apart my bonds, and you have said, ‘I will not serve.’ For on every high hill, and under every leafy tree, you have been debased, O harlot.
21 Songa nnali nkusimbye ng’oli muzabbibu omulungi, ensigo eteriimu kikyamu n’akatono, naye ate lwaki oyonoonese n’ofuuka ng’omuzabbibu ogw’omu nsiko?
Yet I planted you as an elect vineyard, with only true seed. Then how have you been turned away from me, toward that which is depraved, O strange vineyard?
22 Kubanga ne bw’onaaba n’oluvu n’okozesa ne sabbuuni omungi, naye era ebbala lyo n’obutali butuukirivu bwo bisigala bikyalabika,” bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
Even if you wash yourself with soap, and increase your use of herbal soaps, you are still stained by your iniquity in my sight, says the Lord God.
23 Oyinza otya okugamba nti, “Sseeyonoonanga, sigobereranga ba Baali?” Jjukira bwe weeyisa ng’oli mu kiwonvu; tegeera kye wakola. Oli ng’eŋŋamira enkazi efuumuuka embiro ngeraga eno n’eri,
How can you say: ‘I have not been polluted. I have not walked after Baal?’ Consider your ways in the steep valley. Acknowledge what you have done, so that you may be like a swift runner, following his course.
24 ng’endogoyi ey’omu nsiko eddukira mu ddungu mw’emanyidde, ng’ewunyiriza mu bbanga eno n’eri mu kwaka kwayo, mu kiseera ekyo ani ayinza okugiziyiza? Ensajja zonna ezigyetaaga tezeetaaga kwekooya; mu biseera by’okulabaganiramu za kugifuna.
A wild donkey accustomed to solitude, out of the desire in his soul, caught the scent of his lover. Now nothing will turn him away from her. All those who seek her will not cease. But they will find her in her menstruation.
25 Tokooya bigere byo, era tokaza mimiro gyo. Naye n’oddamu nti, “Ebyo bya bwereere, sisobola kukyuka, nayagala bakatonda abalala, nteekwa okubanoonya.”
You should keep your foot from being naked, and your throat from being thirsty. But you have said: ‘I have lost hope. I will not do it. For certainly, I have loved strangers, and I will walk after them.’
26 Ng’omubbi bw’aswala ng’akwatiddwa, n’ennyumba ya Isirayiri bw’eswala bw’etyo, bakabaka baayo, n’abalangira baayo, ne bakabona baayo, era ne bannabbi baayo,
In the same way that a thief is confounded when he has been apprehended, so the house of Israel has been confounded, they and their kings, their leaders and priests and prophets.
27 nga bagamba emiti nti, “Ggwe kitange,” era n’ejjinja nti, “Ggwe wanzaala.” Bankubye amabega, naye bwe balaba ennaku bankaabirira nti, “Yimuka ojje otulokole.”
For they say to a piece of wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You have conceived me.’ They have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their affliction, they will say: ‘Rise up and deliver us.’
28 Kale bakatonda be weekolera baluwa? Leka bajje, bwe baba basobola okukulokola mu biseera eby’emitawaana. Kubanga obungi bwa bakatonda bammwe bwenkanankana n’ebibuga byo ggwe Yuda.
Where are your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them rise up and deliver you in the time of your affliction. For certainly, your gods were like the number of your cities, O Judah.
29 “Lwaki munneemulugunyiza? Mwenna mwanneeddiimira,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Why do you want to contend against me in judgment? You have all forsaken me, says the Lord.
30 Abaana bammwe nababonereza naye nga bwerere, tebakkiriza kugololwa. Mmwe bennyini ne mwettira bannabbi bammwe ng’empologoma bw’etta.
I have struck your children to no effect; they have not accepted discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets. Your generation is like a raging lion.
31 Mmwe ab’omulembe guno muwulirize ekigambo kya Katonda. Mbadde nga ddungu gye muli ng’ensi ejjudde ekizikiza eky’amaanyi? Kale lwaki abantu bange bagamba nti, “Tulina eddembe, tetukyadda gy’oli?”
Consider the word of the Lord. Have I become like a wilderness to Israel, or like a land late to bear fruit? Then why have my people said, ‘We are withdrawing; we will no longer approach you’?
32 Omuwala omuto ayinza okwerabira ebikomo, oba omugole okwerabira ekyambalo kye? Naye ng’ate abantu bange Bannerabidde!
Can a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride the covering across her breast? Yet truly, my people have forgotten me, for innumerable days.
33 Ng’omanyi nnyo okukuba amakubo ag’okunoonya abanaakwagala! N’asembayo okuba omukugu mu bamalaaya aba alina kuyigira ku ggwe.
Why are you striving to claim that your way is good, as if to seek my love, when all the while you are also displaying your malice by your own way,
34 Engoye zo zijjudde omusaayi gw’abaavu n’abatalina musango, awatali kugamba nti bakwatibwa nga babba. Ate nga wadde byonna biri bwe bityo
and in your armpits there is found the blood of poor and innocent souls? I have found them, not in ditches, but everywhere that I mentioned previously.
35 ogamba nti, “Sirina musango, ddala takyanninako busungu!” Laba, ŋŋenda kukusalira omusango olw’okugamba nti, “Sirina kibi kye nkoze.”
And you have said: ‘I am innocent and without sin. And because of this, let your fury be turned away from me.’ Behold, I will contend with you in judgment, because you have said: ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Lwaki ogenda ng’okyusakyusa amakubo go! Misiri ejja kukuswaza nga Bwasuli bwe yakuswaza.
How exceedingly vile you have become, repeating your ways again and again! And so, you will be ashamed of Egypt, just as you were ashamed of Assur.
37 Era n’eyo olivaayo ng’emikono ogyetisse ku mutwe, kubanga Mukama agaanye abo be weesiga; tagenda kukuyamba.
For you will also depart from that place, and your hand will be upon your head. For the Lord has crushed your confidence, and you will have nothing prosperous by it.”

< Yeremiya 2 >