< Yeremia 11 >
1 Hili ndilo neno lililomjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, 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 to the men of Judah, and to 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 the LORD God of Israel; Cursed [be] the man that obeyeth not 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 in the day [that] I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to 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.”
That I may perform the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Bwana akaniambia, “Tangaza maneno haya yote katika miji ya Yuda na katika barabara za Yerusalemu: ‘Sikilizeni maneno ya agano hili na kuyafuata.
Then the LORD said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in 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 earnestly protested to your fathers in the day [that] I brought them out of the land of Egypt, [even] to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey 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 imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded [them] to do; but they did [them] not.
9 Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Kuna shauri baya linaloendelea miongoni mwa watu wa Yuda na wale wanaoishi Yerusalemu.
And the LORD said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among 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 have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my 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 the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry to me, I will not hearken to them.
12 Miji ya Yuda na watu wa Yerusalemu watakwenda kuililia miungu ambayo wameifukizia uvumba, lakini haitawasaidia kamwe wakati maafa yatakapowapiga.
Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
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 were thy gods, O Judah; and [according to] the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to [that] shameful thing, [even] altars to burn 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, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear [them] in the time when they cry to me for their trouble.
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, [seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many; and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then 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.
The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are 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 the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense to Baal.
18 Kwa sababu Bwana alinifunulia hila zao mbaya, nilizifahamu, kwa kuwa wakati ule alinionyesha yale waliyokuwa wanayafanya.
And the LORD hath given me knowledge [of it], and I know [it]: then thou showedst me their doings.
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.”
But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more 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 LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me 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 the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not 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 the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the 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.’”
And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, [even] the year of their visitation.