Jeremia 18
1 Iri ndiro shoko rakauya kuna Jeremia richibva kuna Jehovha richiti,
Yahweh gave another message to me. [He said],
2 “Buruka uende kuimba yomuumbi wehari, ndigokupa shoko rangu ikoko.”
“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3 Saka ndakaenda kuimba yomuumbi wehari, ndikamuona achishanda paguyo.
So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel [that he uses to form pots].
4 Asi hari yaakanga achiumba nevhu yakashatiswa mumaoko ake; saka muumbi akaita imwe hari akaiumba namaumbiro aaiona akanaka.
But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. [So], he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5 Ipapo shoko raJehovha rakasvika kwandiri richiti,
Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6 “Haiwa imba yaIsraeri, handingagoni kuita nemi sezvinoita muumbi wehari uyu here?” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha. “Sezvakaita ivhu muruoko rwomuumbi, ndizvo zvamakaita muruoko rwangu, imi imba yaIsraeri.
“Perhaps the people of Israel [think that] I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. [But what they think is wrong]. I [can control what happens to them like] this man [controls what he does with the clay] in his hands.
7 Kana ndikazivisa panguva ipi zvayo kuti rudzi kana ushe zvidzurwe nokubvarurwa uye zviparadzwe,
There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, [like someone] pulls up [a plant with its roots], and smashes it, and destroys it.
8 uye kana rudzi urwo rwandakayambira rukatendeuka pane zvakaipa zvarwo, ipapo ndichazvidemba ndigorega kuisa pamusoro pavo njodzi yandakanga ndavarongera.
But if [the people of] that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9 Uye kana pane imwe nguva ndikazivisa kuti rudzi kana ushe zvivakwe uye zvisimwe,
And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
10 uye kana rukaita zvakaipa pamberi pangu uye rukasanditeerera, ipapo ndicharangarirazve zvakanaka zvandakanga ndichida kuruitira.
But if [the people of] that nation [start to] do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
11 “Naizvozvo zvino uti kuvanhu veJudha naavo vanogara muJerusarema, ‘Zvanzi naJehovha: Tarirai, ndiri kugadzirira njodzi uye ndiri kuronga urongwa hwakaipa pamusoro penyu. Saka dzokai mubve panzira dzenyu dzakaipa, mumwe nomumwe wenyu, uye mushandure nzira dzenyu namaitiro enyu.’
Therefore, [Jeremiah, go and warn all] the people in Jerusalem and [in other places] in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. [So], each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, [in order that you will not experience that disaster].”’’”
12 Asi vachapindura vachiti, ‘Hazvina maturo. Ticharambira pane zvatakafunga; mumwe nomumwe wedu achatevera kusindimara kwomwoyo wake wakaipa.’”
[So I told that message to the people], but they replied, “It is useless [for you to tell us that]. We will [continue to] be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13 Naizvozvo zvanzi naJehovha: “Bvunzai pakati pevedzimwe ndudzi kuti: Ndiani akambonzwa chimwe chinhu chakadai? Chinhu chakaipa kwazvo chakaitwa neMhandara Israeri.
So, this is what Yahweh says: “Ask the [people who live in other] nations if they have [RHQ] ever heard of such a thing. My Israeli people, who [have been pure like] [MET] virgins, have done a terrible thing!
14 Ko, chando cheRebhanoni chinomboshayikwawo pamawere ematombo here? Ko, mvura yaro inotonhorera inoyerera ichibva kure inombomira kuyerera here?
The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon. The cold streams that flow down from those distant mountains never [RHQ] cease flowing.
15 Kunyange zvakadaro, vanhu vangu vakandikanganwa; vanopisira zvinonhuhwira kuzvifananidzo zvisina maturo, izvo zvakaita kuti vagumburwe munzira dzavo, uye napamakwara ekare kare. Vakavaita kuti vafambe mumakwara akatsauka nomumigwagwa isina kugadzirwa.
But my people [are not as reliable as those streams: ] They have abandoned me. They burn incense to [honor/worship] worthless idols. [It is as though] they have stumbled as they walked along very old roads that are good roads, and now, instead, they are walking on dirt paths.
16 Nyika yavo ichaitwa dongo, chiseko chisingaperi; vose vanopfuura nemo vachashamiswa uye vachadzungudza misoro yavo.
Therefore, their land will become desolate, and people who see it will hiss [to ridicule it]. Everyone who passes by will be appalled; they will shake their heads [to show that they are shocked].
17 Semhepo inobva kumabvazuva, ndichavaparadzira pamberi pavavengi vavo; ndichavaratidza musana wangu kwete uso hwangu, pazuva renjodzi yavo.”
I will scatter the people when their enemies [attack them] like dust is scattered by an east wind. And when they experience all those difficulties/disasters, I will turn my back on them [and refuse] to help them.”
18 Vakati, “Uyai tironge zvatingaita naJeremia; nokuti kudzidziswa kwomurayiro navaprista hakungaraswi, kunyange zano rinobva kuna vakachenjera, kana shoko rinobva kuvaprofita. Saka uyai, timurove nendimi dzedu tirege kuteerera chinhu chipi nechipi chaanoreva.”
Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have [many] priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us [what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah!] So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19 Haiwa Jehovha ndinzweiwo; inzwai zvinorehwa navapomeri vangu!
[Then I prayed], “Yahweh, [please] listen to me! And listen to what my enemies are saying about me.
20 Ko, zvakanaka zvingatsiviwa nezvakaipa here? Kunyange zvakadaro vakandicherera gomba. Rangarirai kuti ndakamira pamberi penyu ndichivareverera, kuti mudzore kutsamwa kwenyu kwavari;
I am doing things that are good, so it is disgusting that [RHQ] they are paying me back by doing evil [things to me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into] and die. Do not forget that [one time] I stood in front of you and pleaded for you [to help them], and I tried to prevent you from [punishing them] [MTY], even though you were very angry with them.
21 Saka sundirai vana vavo kunzara; vaisei kusimba romunondo. Vakadzi vavo ngavarege kuva navana uye ngavave chirikadzi; varume vavo ngavaurayiwe, majaya avo ngaaurayiwe nomunondo muhondo.
So [now], allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by [their enemies’] swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their [old] men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
22 Kuchema ngakunzwike kuchibva kudzimba dzavo, pamunouyisa vapambi pamusoro pavo pakarepo, nokuti vakachera hunza kuti vandibate, uye vakavanzira tsoka dzangu misungo.
Cause people to scream in their homes when enemy soldiers suddenly come into their houses! [Cause all those things to happen to them] because they [want to kill me]. [It is as though] they have dug a pit for me [to fall into], and they have hidden traps along my path.
23 Asi munoziva, imi Jehovha, rangano dzavo dzose dzokundiuraya. Musavakanganwira mhaka dzavo kana kudzima zvivi zvavo pamberi penyu. Ngavawisirwe pasi pamberi penyu, muvarove panguva yokutsamwa kwenyu.
Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me. Do not forgive them for their crimes or blot out [the record of] their sins. Cause them to be destroyed; punish them because of your being angry [with them]!”
