Yeremia 12
1 Wewe daima u mwenye haki, Ee Bwana, niletapo mashtaka mbele yako. Hata hivyo nitazungumza nawe kuhusu hukumu yako: Kwa nini njia ya waovu inafanikiwa? Kwa nini wasio waaminifu wote wanaishi kwa raha?
You are righteous, LORD, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?
2 Umewapanda, nao wameota, wanakua na kuzaa matunda. Daima u midomoni mwao, lakini mbali na mioyo yao.
You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
3 Hata hivyo unanijua mimi, Ee Bwana; unaniona na kuyachunguza mawazo yangu kukuhusu wewe. Wakokote kama kondoo wanaokwenda kuchinjwa! Watenge kwa ajili ya siku ya kuchinjwa!
But you, LORD, know me. You see me, and test my heart towards you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 Je, nchi itakaa katika hali ya kuomboleza mpaka lini, na majani katika kila shamba kunyauka? Kwa sababu wale waishio ndani yake ni waovu, wanyama na ndege wameangamia. Zaidi ya hayo, watu wanasema, “Bwana hataona yatakayotupata sisi.”
How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals and birds are consumed; because they said, “He won’t see our latter end.”
5 “Ikiwa umeshindana mbio na watu kwa mguu na wakakushinda, unawezaje kushindana na farasi? Ikiwa unajikwaa kwenye nchi ambayo ni salama, utawezaje kwenye vichaka kando ya Yordani?
“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? Though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
6 Ndugu zako, watu wa jamaa yako mwenyewe: hata wao wamekusaliti; wameinua kilio kikubwa dhidi yako. Usiwaamini, ingawa wanazungumza mema juu yako.
For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
7 “Nitaiacha nyumba yangu, nitupe urithi wangu; nitamtia yeye nimpendaye mikononi mwa adui zake.
“I have forsaken my house. I have cast off my heritage. I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 Urithi wangu umekuwa kwangu kama simba wa msituni. Huningurumia mimi, kwa hiyo ninamchukia.
My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me. Therefore I have hated her.
9 Je, urithi wangu haukuwa kama ndege wa mawindo wa madoadoa ambaye ndege wengine wawindao humzunguka na kumshambulia? Nenda ukawakusanye pamoja wanyama wote wa mwituni; walete ili wale.
Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field. Bring them to devour.
10 Wachungaji wengi wataliharibu shamba langu la mizabibu na kulikanyaga shamba langu; watalifanya shamba langu zuri kuwa jangwa la ukiwa.
Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 Litafanywa kuwa jangwa, lililokauka na kuachwa ukiwa mbele zangu; nchi yote itafanywa jangwa kwa sababu hakuna hata mmoja anayejali.
They have made it a desolation. It mourns to me, being desolate. The whole land is made desolate, because no one cares.
12 Juu ya miinuko yote ilivyo kama jangwani mharabu atajaa, kwa maana upanga wa Bwana utawala, kuanzia ncha moja ya nchi hadi nyingine; hakuna hata mmoja atakayekuwa salama.
Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of the LORD devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land. No flesh has peace.
13 Watapanda ngano lakini watavuna miiba; watajitaabisha lakini hawatafaidi chochote. Kwa hiyo beba aibu ya mavuno yako kwa sababu ya hasira kali ya Bwana Mungu.”
They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of the LORD’s fierce anger.”
14 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Kwa habari ya majirani zangu wote wabaya wanaonyangʼanya urithi ambao ninawapa watu wangu Israeli, nitawangʼoa kutoka nchi zao, nami nitaingʼoa nyumba ya Yuda kutoka katikati yao.
The LORD says, “Concerning all my evil neighbours, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from amongst them.
15 Lakini baada ya kuwangʼoa, nitawahurumia tena na kumrudisha kila mmoja wao kwenye urithi wake mwenyewe na kwenye nchi yake mwenyewe.
It will happen that after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16 Ikiwa watajifunza vyema njia za watu wangu na kuapa kwa Jina langu, wakisema, ‘Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo,’ hata kama wakati fulani walifundisha watu wangu kuapa kwa Baali, ndipo watakapofanywa imara katikati ya watu wangu.
It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives;’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people.
17 Lakini kama taifa lolote halitasikiliza na kutii, nitalingʼoa kabisa na kuliangamiza,” asema Bwana.
But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it,” says the LORD.
