Yeremia 14
1 Hili ndilo neno la Bwana kwa Yeremia kuhusu ukame:
The Word of the Lord that came to Jeremias concerning the words of the drought.
2 “Yuda anaomboleza, miji yake inayodhoofika; wanaomboleza kwa ajili ya nchi, nacho kilio kinapanda kutoka Yerusalemu.
Judea hath mourned, and the gates thereof are fallen, and are become obscure on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
3 Wakuu wanawatuma watumishi wao maji; wanakwenda visimani lakini humo hakuna maji. Wanarudi na vyombo bila maji; wakiwa na hofu na kukata tamaa, wanafunika vichwa vyao.
The great ones sent their inferiors to the water: they came to draw, they found no water, they carried back their vessels empty: they were confounded and afflicted, and covered their heads.
4 Ardhi imepasuka nyufa kwa sababu hakuna mvua katika nchi; wakulima wana hofu na wanafunika vichwa vyao.
For the destruction of the land, because there came no rain upon the earth, the husbandmen were confounded, they covered their heads.
5 Hata kulungu mashambani anamwacha mtoto wake aliyezaliwa wakati huo huo kwa sababu hakuna majani.
Yea, the hind also brought forth in the field, and left it, because there was no grass.
6 Punda-mwitu wanasimama juu ya miinuko iliyo kame na kutweta kama mbweha; macho yao yanakosa nguvu za kuona kwa ajili ya kukosa malisho.”
And the wild asses stood upon the rocks, they snuffed up the wind like dragons, their eyes failed, because there was no grass.
7 Ingawa dhambi zetu zinashuhudia juu yetu, Ee Bwana, tenda jambo kwa ajili ya jina lako. Kwa kuwa kukengeuka kwetu ni kukubwa, nasi tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
If our iniquities have testified against us, O Lord, do thou it for thy name’s sake, for our rebellions are many, we have sinned against thee.
8 Ee Tumaini la Israeli, Mwokozi wake wakati wa taabu, kwa nini unakuwa kama mgeni katika nchi, kama msafiri anayekaa kwa usiku mmoja tu?
O expectation of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble: why wilt thou be a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man turning in to lodge?
9 Mbona unakuwa kama mtu aliyeshtukizwa, kama shujaa asiye na uwezo wa kuokoa? Wewe uko katikati yetu, Ee Bwana, nasi tunaitwa kwa jina lako; usituache!
Why wilt thou be as a wandering man, as a mighty man that cannot save? but thou, O Lord, art among us, and thy name is called upon by us, forsake us not.
10 Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu watu hawa: “Wanapenda sana kutangatanga, hawaizuii miguu yao. Hivyo Bwana hawakubali; sasa ataukumbuka uovu wao na kuwaadhibu kwa ajili ya dhambi zao.”
Thus saith the Lord to his people, that have loved to move their feet, and have not rested, and have not pleased the Lord: He will now remember their iniquities, and visit their sins.
11 Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Usiombe kwa ajili ya mafanikio ya watu hawa.
And the Lord said to me: Pray not for this people for their good.
12 Ingawa wanafunga, sitasikiliza kilio chao; hata wakitoa dhabihu za kuteketezwa na dhabihu za nafaka, sitazikubali. Badala yake, nitawaangamiza kwa upanga, njaa na tauni.”
When they fast I will not hear their prayers: and if they offer holocausts and victims, I will not receive them: for I will consume them by the sword, and by famine, and by the pestilence.
13 Lakini nikasema, “Aa, Bwana Mwenyezi, manabii wanaendelea kuwaambia, ‘Hamtaona upanga wala kukabiliwa na njaa. Naam, nitawapa amani ya kudumu mahali hapa.’”
And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, the prophets say to them: You shall not see the sword, and there shall be no famine among you, but he will give you true peace in this place.
14 Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, “Manabii wanatabiri uongo kwa jina langu. Sikuwatuma, wala sikuwaweka, wala sikusema nao. Wanawatabiria maono ya uongo, maaguzi, maono ya sanamu zisizofaa kitu, na madanganyo ya mawazo yao wenyewe.
And the Lord said to me: The prophets prophesy falsely in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, nor have I spoken to them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination and deceit, and the seduction of their own heart.
15 Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kuhusu manabii wanaotabiri kwa jina langu: Mimi sikuwatuma, lakini wanasema, ‘Hakuna upanga wala njaa itakayoigusa nchi hii.’ Manabii hao hao watakufa kwa upanga na njaa.
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophecy in my name, whom I did not send, that say: Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
16 Nao watu hao wanaowatabiria watatupwa nje katika barabara za Yerusalemu kwa sababu ya njaa na upanga. Hapatakuwepo yeyote wa kuwazika wao au wake zao, wana wao au binti zao. Nitawamwagia maafa wanayostahili.
And the people to whom they prophecy, shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and there shall be none to bury them: they and their wives, their sons and their daughters, and I will pour out their wickedness upon them.
17 “Nena nao neno hili: “‘Macho yangu na yatiririkwe na machozi usiku na mchana bila kukoma; kwa kuwa binti yangu aliye bikira, yaani watu wangu, amepata jeraha baya, pigo la kuangamiza.
And thou shalt speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed down tears night and day, and let them not cease, because the virgin daughter of my people is afflicted with a great affliction, with an exceeding grievous evil.
18 Kama nikienda mashambani, ninaona wale waliouawa kwa upanga; kama nikienda mjini, ninaona maangamizi ya njaa. Nabii na kuhani kwa pamoja wamekwenda katika nchi wasiyoijua.’”
If I go forth into the fields, behold the slain with the sword: and if I enter into the city, behold them that are consumed with famine. The prophet also and the priest are gone into a land which they knew not.
19 Je, umemkataa Yuda kabisa? Umemchukia Sayuni kabisa? Kwa nini umetuumiza hata hatuwezi kuponyeka? Tulitarajia amani, lakini hakuna jema lililotujia; tulitarajia wakati wa kupona lakini kuna hofu kuu tu.
Hast thou utterly cast away Juda, or hath thy soul abhorred Sion? why then hast thou struck us, so that there is no healing for us? we have looked for peace, and there is no good: and for the time of healing, and behold trouble.
20 Ee Bwana, tunatambua uovu wetu na kosa la baba zetu; kweli tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, the iniquities of our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
21 Kwa ajili ya jina lako usituchukie kabisa; usikidharau kiti chako cha enzi kilichotukuka. Kumbuka agano lako nasi na usilivunje.
Give us not to be a reproach, for thy name’s sake, and do not disgrace in us the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
22 Je, kuna sanamu yoyote isiyofaa kitu ya mataifa iwezayo kuleta mvua? Je, anga peke yake zaweza kutoa mvua? La hasha, ni wewe peke yako, Ee Bwana, Mungu wetu. Kwa hiyo tumaini letu liko kwako, kwa kuwa wewe ndiwe ufanyaye haya yote.
Are there any among the graven things of the Gentiles that can send rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou the Lord our God, whom we have looked for? for thou hast made all these things.
