< Yeremia 10 >
1 Sikieni lile ambalo Bwana, anena nanyi ee nyumba ya Israeli.
Hear ye the word which Jehovah speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Usijifunze njia za mataifa wala usitishwe na ishara katika anga, ingawa mataifa yanatishwa nazo.
Thus says Jehovah: Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the nations are dismayed at them.
3 Kwa maana desturi za mataifa hazina maana, wanakata mti msituni, na fundi anauchonga kwa patasi.
For the customs of the peoples are vanity. For a man cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.
4 Wanaparemba kwa fedha na dhahabu, wanakikaza kwa nyundo na misumari ili kisitikisike.
They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move.
5 Sanamu zao ni kama sanamu iliyowekwa shambani la matango kutishia ndege nazo haziwezi kuongea; sharti zibebwe sababu haziwezi kutembea. Usiziogope; haziwezi kudhuru, wala kutenda lolote jema.”
They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and do not speak. They must be carried, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good.
6 Hakuna aliye kama wewe, Ee Bwana; wewe ni mkuu, jina lako ni lenye nguvu katika uweza.
There is none like thee, O Jehovah. Thou are great, and thy name is great in might.
7 Ni nani ambaye haimpasi kukuheshimu wewe, Ee Mfalme wa mataifa? Hii ni stahili yako. Miongoni mwa watu wote wenye hekima katika mataifa na katika falme zao zote, hakuna aliye kama wewe.
Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? For to thee it appertains, inasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like thee.
8 Wote hawana akili, tena ni wapumbavu, wanafundishwa na sanamu za miti zisizofaa lolote.
But they are together brutish and foolish, the instruction of idols! It is but a block of wood.
9 Huleta fedha iliyofuliwa kutoka Tarshishi na dhahabu kutoka Ufazi. Kile ambacho fundi na sonara wametengeneza huvikwa mavazi ya rangi ya samawi na urujuani: vyote vikiwa vimetengenezwa na mafundi stadi.
There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith, blue and purple for their clothing. They are all the work of skilful men.
10 Lakini Bwana ni Mungu wa kweli, yeye ndiye Mungu aliye hai, Mfalme wa milele. Anapokasirika, dunia hutetemeka, mataifa hayawezi kustahimili hasira yake.
But Jehovah is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.
11 “Waambie hivi: ‘Miungu hii, ambayo haikuumba mbingu na dunia, itaangamia kutoka dunia na kutoka chini ya mbingu.’”
Thus ye shall say to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.
12 Lakini Mungu aliiumba dunia kwa uweza wake, akaweka misingi ya ulimwengu kwa hekima yake, na akazitandaza mbingu kwa ufahamu wake.
He has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
13 Atoapo sauti yake, maji yaliyo katika mbingu hunguruma; huyafanya mawingu yainuke kutoka miisho ya dunia. Hupeleka umeme wa radi pamoja na mvua, naye huuleta upepo kutoka ghala zake.
When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries.
14 Kila mmoja ni mjinga na hana maarifa, kila sonara ameaibishwa na sanamu zake. Vinyago vyake ni vya udanganyifu, havina pumzi ndani yavyo.
Every man has become brutish, without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image. For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15 Havifai kitu, ni vitu vya kufanyia mzaha tu, hukumu yavyo itakapowadia, vitaangamia.
They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16 Yeye aliye Fungu la Yakobo sivyo alivyo, kwani ndiye Muumba wa vitu vyote, pamoja na Israeli, kabila la urithi wake: Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake.
The portion of Jacob is not like these. For he is the former of all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. Jehovah of hosts is his name.
17 Kusanyeni mali na vitu vyenu mwondoke nchi hii, enyi mnaoishi katika hali ya kuzingirwa na jeshi.
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou who abides in the siege.
18 Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Wakati huu, nitawatupa nje kwa nguvu wote waishio katika nchi hii; nitawataabisha ili waweze kutekwa.”
For thus says Jehovah, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.
19 Ole wangu mimi kwa ajili ya kuumia kwangu! Jeraha langu ni kubwa! Lakini nilisema, “Kweli hii ni adhabu yangu, nami sharti niistahimili.”
Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous, but I said, Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.
20 Hema langu limeangamizwa; kamba zake zote zimekatwa. Wana wangu wametekwa na hawapo tena; hakuna hata mmoja aliyebaki wa kusimamisha hema langu wala wa kusimamisha kibanda changu.
My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken. My sons have gone forth from me, and they are not. There is none to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21 Wachungaji hawana akili wala hawamuulizi Bwana, hivyo hawastawi na kundi lao lote la kondoo limetawanyika.
For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.
22 Sikilizeni! Taarifa inakuja: ghasia kubwa kutoka nchi ya kaskazini! Hii itafanya miji ya Yuda ukiwa, makao ya mbweha.
The voice of news. Behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals.
23 Ninajua, Ee Bwana, kwamba maisha ya mwanadamu si yake mwenyewe; hawezi kuziongoza hatua zake mwenyewe.
O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
24 Unirudi, Ee Bwana, lakini kwa kipimo cha haki: si katika hasira yako, usije ukaniangamiza.
O Jehovah, correct me, but in measure, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
25 Umwage ghadhabu yako juu ya mataifa wasiokujua wewe, juu ya mataifa wasioliitia jina lako. Kwa kuwa wamemwangamiza Yakobo; wamemwangamiza kabisa na kuiharibu nchi yake.
Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name. For they have devoured Jacob. Yea, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.