Yeremiya 23
1 “Zibasanze abasumba abazikiriza era abasaasaanya endiga z’ekisibo kyange!” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Yahweh declares, “Terrible things will happen to [the leaders] [MET] [of my people—those who are like] shepherds of [the people who are like] my sheep—because they have scattered my people and sent them away, and have not taken care of them.
2 Noolwekyo, bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri ebikwata ku basumba abalabirira abantu bange nti, “Kubanga musaasaanyizza abantu bange ne mubagoba ne mutabalabirira, nzija kubaleetako ebibonerezo olw’ebibi bye mukoze,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
So, this is what [I, ] Yahweh, the God whom the Israeli [people worship], say to those leaders: ‘Instead of taking care of my people and [leading them to places where they are safe, like a shepherd does for] his sheep, you have scattered them. So I will punish you for the evil things that you have done.
3 “Nze kennyini nzija kukuŋŋaanya abaasigalawo ku kisibo kyange okuva mu mawanga gonna gye nabagobera, mbakomyewo mu kisibo kyabwe, gye banaabalira ebibala beeyongere obungi.
But later I will gather those who are still alive, from the countries where I have forced them to go. I will bring them back to their own country, where they will have many children, and their number/population will increase.
4 Ndibawa abasumba abanaabalabirira, era tebaliddayo kutya oba kuggwaamu maanyi, era tewaabe n’omu abula,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
[Then] I will appoint [other] leaders for my people, leaders who will take care of them. And my people will never be afraid [DOU] of anything again, and none of them will be [like a] lost [sheep].’”
5 “Ennaku zijja, lwe ndiyimusiza Dawudi Ettabi ettukuvu, Kabaka alikulembera n’amagezi akole ebituufu eby’obwenkanya mu nsi,” bwayogera Mukama.
Yahweh [also] says, “Some day I will appoint for you a righteous man who will be a descendant of King David. He will be a king who rules wisely. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
6 Mu mirembe gye, Yuda alirokolebwa ne Isirayiri alibeera mu mirembe. Lino lye linnya lye balimuyita: Mukama Obutukuvu Bwaffe.
At that time, all the Israeli people [DOU] will be saved [from their enemies], and they will be safe. And his name will be ‘Yahweh, the one who vindicates/defends us.’”
7 “Noolwekyo ennaku zijja, abantu lwe batalyogera nate nti, ‘Ddala nga Mukama bwali omulamu eyaggya Abayisirayiri mu Misiri,’ bwayogera Mukama,
Yahweh [also] says that at that time, people [who are solemnly promising to do something] will no longer say, “[I will do it as surely] as Yahweh lives, who rescued the Israeli people from Egypt.”
8 naye bagambe nti, ‘Ddala nga Mukama bw’ali omulamu, eyaggya abaana ba Isirayiri mu nsi ey’omu bukiikakkono era ne mu nsi zonna gye yali abagobedde.’ Olwo balibeera mu nsi yaabwe ku bwabwe,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Instead, they will say, “[I will do it] as surely as Yahweh lives, who brought [us] Israeli people back to our own land, from the land to the northeast and from all the [other] countries to which he had exiled us.” And they will live in their own land [again].
9 Ebikwata ku bannabbi: omutima gwange gwennyise mu nda yange amagumba gange gonna gakankana, nninga omusajja omutamiivu, ng’omusajja afugiddwa omwenge, ku lwa Mukama n’ebigambo bye ebitukuvu.
I am very shocked because of the sacred message that Yahweh has spoken about [what will happen to] the [false] prophets; [it is as though] all my bones shake. I stagger like a man who is drunk after drinking a lot of wine.
10 Ensi ejjudde abenzi; olw’ekikolimo ensi esigadde nkalu era n’amalundiro g’omu ddungu meereere. Bannabbi bagoberera amakubo amabi era bakozesa obuyinza bwabwe mu butali bwenkanya.
The land is full of [people who commit] adultery; and [Yahweh] has cursed the land. Even the pastures in the desert are all dried up, because the people do what is evil, and [the false prophets] use their power to do things that are not just/fair.
11 “Nnabbi ne kabona bombi tebalina Katonda, ne mu yeekaalu yange mbasanze nga bakoleramu ebibi,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Yahweh says, “[Yes, even] the priests and the prophets are ungodly; they do wicked things even in my temple.
12 “Noolwekyo amakubo gaabwe gajja kuseerera era bajja kusuulibwa mu kizikiza era eyo gye baligwira. Ndibaleetako okuzikirira mu mwaka gwe balibonerezebwamu,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Therefore, [it will be as though] the paths that they walk on are slippery. [It will be as though] they are being chased in the darkness, and there they will fall down, because I will cause them to experience disasters at the time that I will punish them. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it.”
13 “Mu bannabbi b’e Samaliya nalaba ekintu kino ekyenyinyalwa. Balagulira wansi wa Baali ne babuza abantu bange Isirayiri.
[Previously] I saw that the prophets in Samaria were doing something that was wrong; they were prophesying, saying that Baal [gave them the messages that they were proclaiming], and they were deceiving my people.
14 Era ne mu bannabbi ba Yerusaalemi ndabye ekintu ekibi ennyo. Bakola eby’obwenzi ne batambulira mu bulimba. Bagumya abo abakozi b’ebibi ne wataba n’omu ava mu kwonoona kwe. Bonna bali nga Sodomu gye ndi; abantu ba Yerusaalemi bali nga Ggomola.”
And [now] I have seen the prophets in Jerusalem doing terrible things. They commit adultery and habitually tell lies. They encourage evil people to continue to do evil things, with the result that the people do not stop sinning. Those prophets are as wicked as the people in Sodom and Gomorrah were.
15 Noolwekyo, bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye ebikwata ku bannabbi nti, “Nzija kubaliisa emmere ekaawa banywe amazzi ag’obutwa, kubanga okuva mu bannabbi ba Yerusaalemi, obutatya Katonda bubunye mu nsi yonna.”
So, this is what the Commander of the armies of angels says about those [false] prophets: “I will give those prophets bitter things to eat and poison to drink, because it is because of them that this land is filled with [people who do] wicked things.”
16 Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda ow’eggye nti, “Temuwuliriza bannabbi bye babategeeza: babajjuza essuubi ekyamu. Boogera ebirooto ebiva mu mitima gyabwe, so si ebiva mu kamwa ka Mukama Katonda.
This is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: “Do not pay any attention to what those [false] prophets say to you, because they are just deceiving you. They tell you about visions that they have thought/created [only] in their own minds, not about visions that I have given them.
17 Bagamba abo abannyooma nti, ‘Mukama Katonda agamba onoobeera n’emirembe.’ Abo abagoberera obukakanyavu bw’emitima gyabwe babagamba nti, ‘Tewali kabi kanaakujjira.’
They habitually say to those who hate me, ‘[Yahweh says that] you will have peace.’ And they say to those who stubbornly do what they want to do, ‘Nothing bad will happen to you [because of your doing those things].’
18 Naye ani ku bo eyali abadde mu lukiiko lwa Mukama Katonda okulaba oba okuwulira ekigambo kye?
But none of them has ever been in a council [meeting] in heaven in order to listen to a message from me. None of them has paid attention to anything that [I], Yahweh, have said.
19 Laba, omuyaga gwa Mukama gujja kubwatuka n’ekiruyi, empewo ey’akazimu eyetooloolera ku mitwe gy’abakozi b’ebibi.
So, listen to this: I will punish them; it will be [like] a great storm; it will come down [like] a whirlwind, swirling around the heads of those wicked people.
20 Obusungu bwa Mukama tebujja kukoma okutuusa ng’amaze okutuukiriza ekigendererwa ky’omutima gwe. Mu nnaku ezijja, mujja kukitegeera bulungi.
I will not stop being angry until I completely accomplish all that I have planned. In the future, you will understand [all of] this clearly.”
21 Situmanga bannabbi bano, songa bagenda badduka n’obubaka buno, era sogeranga nabo, songa bategeeza obunnabbi.
[Yahweh also says, ] “I have not appointed those prophets, but they run [around telling people their messages]. I did not speak to them, but they [continue to] prophesy.
22 Naye singa bayimirira mu maaso gange, bandibuulidde abantu bange ebigambo byange, era bandibaggye mu makubo gaabwe amabi era ne mu bikolwa byabwe ebibi.
If they had been in my council [meetings], they would have been able to speak messages from me, and they would have caused people to turn away from committing evil things.”
23 “Ndi Katonda abeera okumpi wokka, so si abeera ewala?” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Yahweh [also] says, “Am I a God who is only nearby? No, I am a God who is far away, also.
24 “Omuntu ayinza okwekweka mu bifo eby’ekyama ne sisobola kumulaba?” bw’ayogera Mukama. “Sijjuza eggulu n’ensi?” bw’ayogera Mukama.
So, no one can hide in some secret place with the result that I cannot see him. I am everywhere, in heaven and on the earth! [That is what I], Yahweh, say!
25 “Mpulidde bannabbi aboogera eby’obulimba mu linnya lyange. Bagamba nti, ‘Naloose! Naloose!’
I have heard those prophets prophesy lies, saying that they are telling people messages from me. They say, ‘[Listen to me tell you] the dream that God gave me last night! I [really] had this dream!’
26 Kino kinaakoma ddi mu mitima gy’abo bannabbi b’obulimba, abategeeza eby’obulimba ebiva ku mitima gyabwe?
How long will they continue to do this? How long will those lying prophets continue to prophesy things that come only from their own minds?
27 Balowooza nti ebirooto bye balootolola bannaabwe bijja kuleetera abantu bange okwerabira erinnya lyange, nga bakitaabwe bwe beerabira erinnya lyange nga basinza Baali.
They think that because of the dreams that they tell to each other, people will forget me, like their ancestors forgot about me when they started to worship Baal.
28 Nnabbi alina ekirooto ayogere ekirooto kye, n’oyo alina ekigambo kyange akyogere mu bwesigwa. Kubanga ebisusunku birina nkolagana ki n’eŋŋaano?” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Allow those [false] prophets to tell people their dreams, but those who have messages that [really] come from me should proclaim those messages faithfully. I, Yahweh, say [that like] straw and grain are certainly very different, [my messages and the messages from those false prophets are certainly very different].
29 “Ekigambo kyange tekiri nga muliro, ng’ennyondo eyasaayasa olwazi?” bw’ayogera Mukama.
[It is as though] my messages [burn] like a fire; they [strike people’s inner beings like] someone strikes a rock with a hammer and smashes it into pieces.
30 “Noolwekyo, ndi mulabe wa bannabbi ababbiŋŋanako ebigambo ebiva gye ndi,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
Therefore, [I, ] Yahweh say, 'I oppose all those prophets who steal messages from each other and claim that those messages came from me.
31 “Weewaawo,” bw’ayogera Mukama, “saagalira ddala bannabbi abayogerayogera nga bagamba nti, ‘Bw’atyo Mukama bw’agamba.’
I oppose those prophets who speak their own messages but claim that those messages came from me.
32 Ddala ddala ndi mulabe w’abo abawa obunnabbi bw’ebirooto ebikyamu. Babyogera ne babuza abantu bange n’obulimba bwabwe obutaliimu, ate nga saabatuma wadde okubateekawo. Tebalina kye bayamba bantu bano n’akatono,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
I oppose those prophets who falsely say that I told them something in a vision, but they are [only] telling lies that cause my people to sin. I did not send those prophets. I did not even appoint them [to be prophets]. And they have no messages that will benefit my people at all.' [That is what I, ] Yahweh, declare.”
33 “Abantu bano, oba nnabbi oba kabona bw’abuuza nti, ‘Bubaka ki Mukama bw’atutumye?’ Bagambe nti, ‘Bubaka ki? Nzija kubabuulira, bw’ayogera Mukama.’
[Yahweh said to me], “If one of those prophets or priests or one of the [other] people asks you, ‘What problem has Yahweh told you about [now]?’, you must reply, ‘You are the problem! And Yahweh says that he will abandon you!’
34 Nnabbi, oba kabona oba omuntu yenna bw’agamba nti, ‘Buno bwe bubaka bwa Mukama,’ Nzija kubonereza omusajja oyo n’ab’omu maka ge.
And if any prophet or priest or anyone [else falsely] says, ‘[I have] a prophecy from Yahweh,’ I will punish that person and his family.
35 Kino buli omu ky’anagamba mikwano gye oba ab’eŋŋanda ze. ‘Mukama, azeemu ki? Oba kiki Mukama ky’ayogedde?’
What you should continually ask each other is, ‘[When you spoke to Yahweh, ] what did he reply? What is he saying [to us]?’
36 Naye temuddayo kugamba nti, ‘Buno bwe bubaka bwa Mukama,’ kubanga buli kigambo kya muntu kifuuka bubaka bwe era mukyusa ebigambo bya Katonda omulamu, Mukama ow’Eggye, Katonda waffe.
But stop saying ‘[I have] a prophecy/message from Yahweh,’ because those who say that are doing it only because they want people to accept their ideas, and by doing that they distort/change the messages that are from our God, the Commander of the armies of angels.
37 Kino kye munaabuuza nnabbi nti, ‘Kiki Mukama kyakuzzeemu?’ Oba nti, ‘Mukama, agambye ki?’
This is what you should ask each prophet: ‘What did Yahweh reply [when you talked to him]? What is he saying [to us]?’
38 Naye era mujja kugamba nti, ‘Buno bwe bubaka Mukama bwatutumye,’ wadde nga nabagamba nti, Temusaanye kwogera nti, ‘Buno bwe bubaka bwa Mukama,’
If he replies, ‘[What I told you] is a prophecy/message from Yahweh,’ you should say to him, ‘You have continued to say, “[I received] a prophecy/message from Yahweh” even though I told you to not claim that you have received prophecies/messages from Yahweh.’
39 kyenaava mbagobera ddala mu maaso gange ne mu kibuga ekyo kye nabawa, mmwe ne bakitammwe.
So I [, Yahweh, ] will get rid of you [false prophets]. I will expel you from my presence. And I will get rid of this city that I gave to you and to your ancestors.
40 Ndibaleetako ekivume ekitaliggwaawo, n’ensonyi ez’olubeerera ebitagenda kwerabirwa.”
I will cause people to make fun of you forever. People will never forget that you were disgraced.”
