Yeremiya 6
1 Mwekuŋŋaanye mudduke mmwe abantu ba Benyamini! Mmudduke muve mu Yerusaalemi. Fuuwa ekkondeere mu Tekowa, era yimusa ebbendera mu Besukakkeremu: kubanga akacwano kasinzidde mu bukiikakkono, okuzikirira okw’entiisa.
“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 Ndizikiriza omuwala wa Sayuuni, omulungi oyo omubalagavu.
Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.
3 Abasumba balimulumba n’ebisibo byabwe. Balimwetoolooza weema zaabwe zimwolekere enjuuyi zonna, buli omu yeezimbire w’ayagala.
[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 “Mwetegeke mumulwanyise! Muyimuke, tumulumbe mu ttuntu! Naye, nedda, omusana gugenda guggwaayo, n’ebisiikirize by’akawungeezi biwanvuye!
[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 Tugende, tulumbe kiro tuzikirize amayumba ge.”
we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”
6 Bw’ati Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye bw’agamba nti, “Muteme emiti mukole entuumo muzingize Yerusaalemi. Ekibuga kino kiteekwa okubonerezebwa kyonna, kubanga kijjudde bujoozi bwerere.
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 Ng’oluzzi bwe lukulukusa amazzi, bwe kityo bwe kikulukusa ebibi byakyo, entalo era n’okuzikirira biwulirwa munda waakyo. Obulwadde n’ebiwundu bye ndaba buli bbanga.
[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 Nkulabula, ggwe Yerusaalemi, emmeeme yange ereme okwawukana naawe, si kulwa ng’ofuuka amatongo.”
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 Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye nti, “Balisusumbulira ddala n’abo abatono abaliba basigaddewo mu Isirayiri. Ddamu oyise omukono mu matabi ng’omunozi we zabbibu bw’akola.”
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 Ndyogera eri ani gwe ndirabula? Ani alimpuliriza? Amatu gaabwe gagaddwa ne batasobola kuwulira. Ekigambo kya Mukama kiri nga kyakusesa gye bali, tebakisanyukira n’akamu.
[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 Kyenva nzijula ekiruyi sikyasobola kukizibiikiriza. “Kiyiwe ku baana abali mu luguudo, ne ku bavubuka abakuŋŋaanye; abaami awamu n’abakazi n’abakadde abo abawezezza emyaka emingi baliwambibwa.
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 Enju zaabwe ziritwalibwa abalala, n’ennimiro zaabwe awamu ne bakazi baabwe; kubanga ndigolola omukono gwange ku abo abali mu nsi,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
[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 “Kubanga okuva ku asembayo wansi okutuusa ku asingayo waggulu, buli omu alulunkanira kufuna. Nnabbi ne kabona bonna boogera eby’obulimba.
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 Ekiwundu ky’abantu bange bakijjanjaba ng’ekitali ky’amaanyi. Boogera nti, ‘Mirembe, mirembe.’ So nga tewali mirembe.
[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 Bakwatibwa ensonyi olw’ebikolwa byabwe eby’emizizo? Nedda. Tebakwatibwa nsonyi n’akatono. Noolwekyo baligwira wamu n’abo abaligwa; balisuulibwa wansi bwe ndibabonereza,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
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 Kino Mukama ky’agamba nti, “Yimirira mu masaŋŋanzira otunule. Buuza amakubo ag’edda, buuza ekkubo eddungi gye liri, era otambulire omwo, emmeeme yammwe erifuna ekiwummulo. Naye ne mugamba nti, ‘Tetujja kulitambuliramu.’
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 Nabateerawo abakuumi babategeeze nti, Muwulirize eddoboozi ly’ekkondeere, naye ne mugamba nti, ‘Tetujja kuwuliriza.’
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 Kale muwulire, mmwe amawanga era mulabe mmwe ab’ekkuŋŋaaniro ekyo ekiribatuukako.
Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].
19 Wuliriza, ggwe ensi: laba, ndeeta akabi ku bantu bano, by’ebibala by’enkwe zaabwe, kubanga tebafuddeeyo ku bigambo byange n’etteeka lyange baligaanye.
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 Omugavu oguva e Seeba bampa gwa ki? Oba zino emmuli ezakaloosa eziva mu nsi ey’ewala? Ebiweebwayo byammwe ebyokebwa sijja kubikkiriza, n’essaddaaka zammwe tezinsanyusa.”
[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 Noolwekyo bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, “Laba nditeeka enkonge mu maaso g’abantu bano; bakitaabwe ne batabani baabwe bonna bazesittaleko. Muliraanwa we ne mukwano gwe balizikirira.”
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 Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama, nti, “Laba, eggye lijja eriva mu nsi ey’omu bukiikakkono, eggwanga ery’amaanyi liyimusibwa okuva ku nkomerero z’ensi.
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 Bakutte omutego n’effumu, abakambwe abatalina kusaasira. Bawulikika ng’ennyanja ewuuma, nga beebagadde embalaasi zaabwe: bajja ng’abalwanyi mu byambalo by’olutalo okulumba ggwe Muwala wa Sayuuni!”
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 Tuwulidde ettutumu lyabwe; era emikono gyaffe giweddemu amaanyi okulumwa okunene kutukutte n’okulumwa ng’okw’omukazi alumwa okuzaala.
[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 Togeza kugenda mu nnimiro newaakubadde okutambulira mu kkubo; kubanga omulabe abunye wonna wonna n’entiisa ejjudde mu bantu.
[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 Kale nno mmwe abantu, mwambale ebibukutu era mwevulunge mu vvu; mukungubage ng’abakaabira omwana owoobulenzi omu yekka. Kubanga oyo agenda okuzikiriza ajja kutugwako mavumbavumba.
[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 “Nkufudde ekigezesa abantu bange n’ekyuma, osobole okulaba n’okugezesa amakubo gaabwe.
[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 Bonna bakyewaggula abakakanyavu abagenda bawaayiriza, bikomo era kyuma, bonna boonoonefu.
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 Emivubo bagifukuta n’amaanyi, omuliro gumalawo essasi, naye balongoosereza bwereere kubanga ababi tebaggyibwamu.
[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 Baliyitibwa masengere ga ffeeza, kubanga Mukama abalese.”
[I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”
