< Yeremia 11 >
1 Hili ndilo neno lililomjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana:
The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying:
2 “Sikia maneno ya agano hili, nawe uwaambie watu wa Yuda na wale waishio Yerusalemu.
Hear ye the words of this covenant, And speak ye to the men of Judah, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
3 Waambie kwamba hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Amelaaniwa mtu ambaye hatayatii maneno ya agano hili,
And say thou to them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who will not obey the words of this covenant,
4 maneno niliyowaamuru baba zenu nilipowatoa katika nchi ya Misri, kutoka tanuru la kuyeyushia vyuma.’ Nilisema, ‘Nitiini mimi na mfanye kila kitu ninachowaamuru, nanyi mtakuwa watu wangu, nami nitakuwa Mungu wenu.
Which I commanded your fathers, When I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, From the iron furnace, saying, “Obey ye my voice, And do all which I command you; So shall ye be my people, And I will be your God;
5 Kisha nitatimiza kiapo nilichowaapia baba zenu, kuwapa nchi itiririkayo maziwa na asali,’ nchi ambayo mnaimiliki leo.” Nikajibu, “Amen, Bwana.”
So that I may perform the oath, Which I made to your fathers, To give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.” Then answered I, and said, So may it be, O Jehovah!
6 Bwana akaniambia, “Tangaza maneno haya yote katika miji ya Yuda na katika barabara za Yerusalemu: ‘Sikilizeni maneno ya agano hili na kuyafuata.
Then said Jehovah to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, And the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them!
7 Tangu wakati ule niliwapandisha baba zenu kutoka Misri mpaka leo, niliwaonya tena na tena, nikisema “Nitiini mimi.”
For I have earnestly admonished your fathers, From the time when I brought them up from the land of Egypt to this day, Rising early and admonishing them, saying, “Obey ye my voice!”
8 Lakini hawakusikiliza wala kujali. Badala yake, walifuata ukaidi wa mioyo yao miovu. Hivyo nikaleta juu yao laana zote za agano nililokuwa nimewaamuru wao kulifuata, lakini wao hawakulishika.’”
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, But walked every one in the obstinacy of his evil heart; Therefore have I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, Which I commanded them to obey, And they obeyed not.
9 Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Kuna shauri baya linaloendelea miongoni mwa watu wa Yuda na wale wanaoishi Yerusalemu.
Jehovah also said to me: A conspiracy hath been found among the men of Judah, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 Wamerudia dhambi za baba zao, waliokataa kusikiliza maneno yangu. Wameifuata miungu mingine kuitumikia. Nyumba zote mbili za Israeli na Yuda zimelivunja agano nililofanya na baba zao.
They turn back to the iniquities of their forefathers, Who refused to hearken to my words; They go after strange gods and serve them; The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant Which I made with their fathers.
11 Kwa hivyo, hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: ‘Nitaleta juu yao maafa ambayo hawawezi kuyakimbia. Hata kama wakinililia, sitawasikiliza.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold I bring upon them a calamity, From which they shall not be able to escape; And though they cry to me, I will not hear them.
12 Miji ya Yuda na watu wa Yerusalemu watakwenda kuililia miungu ambayo wameifukizia uvumba, lakini haitawasaidia kamwe wakati maafa yatakapowapiga.
Then may the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go, And cry to the gods to whom they burn incense; But they shall not save them at all in the time of their calamity.
13 Mnayo miungu mingi kama miji mliyo nayo, ee Yuda, nazo madhabahu mlizozijenga za kufukizia uvumba huyo mungu wa aibu Baali ni nyingi kama barabara za Yerusalemu.’
For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah! According to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to a thing of shame, Altars for burning incense to Baal.
14 “Wewe usiwaombee watu hawa wala kufanya maombezi yoyote au kunisihi kwa ajili yao, kwa sababu sitawasikiliza watakaponiita wakati wa taabu yao.
Therefore pray not thou for this people, Nor lift up a cry or a prayer for them; For I will not hear when they cry to me On account of their calamity.
15 “Mpenzi wangu anafanya nini hekaluni mwangu, anapofanya mashauri yake maovu na wengi? Je, nyama iliyowekwa wakfu yaweza kuondolea mbali adhabu yako? Unapojiingiza katika ubaya wako, ndipo unashangilia.”
What hath my beloved to do in my house, While many pollute it with wickedness? The holy flesh shall pass away from thee, For when thou doest evil, thou rejoicest.
16 Bwana alikuita mti wa mzeituni uliostawi ulio na matunda mazuri kwa sura. Lakini kwa ngurumo ya mawimbi makuu atautia moto, nayo matawi yake yatavunjika.
Jehovah hath called thee an olive-tree, Green, fair, and of goodly fruit; With the noise of a great crackling doth he kindle a fire upon it, And the branches of it shall be broken.
17 Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, aliyekupanda, ametamka maafa kwa ajili yako, kwa sababu nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda mmefanya maovu na kunikasirisha kwa kumfukizia Baali uvumba.
For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, Hath pronounced evil against thee, On account of the wickedness of the house of Israel and of Judah, which they have committed In provoking me to anger by burning incense to Baal.
18 Kwa sababu Bwana alinifunulia hila zao mbaya, nilizifahamu, kwa kuwa wakati ule alinionyesha yale waliyokuwa wanayafanya.
Jehovah made it known to me, and I knew it; Thou didst show me their machinations!
19 Nilikuwa kama mwana-kondoo mpole aliyeongozwa machinjoni; mimi sikutambua kwamba walikuwa wamefanya shauri baya dhidi yangu, wakisema, “Sisi na tuuangamize mti na matunda yake; nasi tumkatilie mbali kutoka nchi ya walio hai, ili jina lake lisikumbukwe tena.”
For I was like a tame lamb, that is led to the slaughter, And knew not that they had formed plots against me, [[saying, ]] “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, Let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name may no more be remembered!”
20 Lakini, Ee Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, wewe uhukumuye kwa haki, nawe uchunguzaye moyo na akili, wacha nione ukiwalipiza wao kisasi, kwa maana kwako nimeweka shauri langu.
But, O Jehovah of hosts, the righteous judge, Who triest the reins and the heart, I shall see thy vengeance on them, For to thee have I revealed my cause!
21 “Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu watu wa Anathothi wale wanaotafuta uhai wako wakisema, ‘Usitoe unabii kwa jina la Bwana, la sivyo utakufa kwa mikono yetu’:
Therefore thus saith Jehovah against the men of Anathoth, Who seek thy life, and say, “Prophesy not in the name of Jehovah, Lest thou die by our hand!”
22 kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: ‘Nitawaadhibu. Vijana wao waume watakufa kwa upanga, wana wao na binti zao kwa njaa.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will punish them; Their young men shall die by the sword; Their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,
23 Hawatasaziwa hata mabaki kwao, kwa sababu nitaleta maafa kwa watu wa Anathothi katika mwaka wa adhabu yao.’”
There shall be none of them left; For I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, At the time of their punishment.