< Yeremia 14 >
1 Hili ndilo neno la Bwana kwa Yeremia kuhusu ukame:
The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
2 “Yuda anaomboleza, miji yake inayodhoofika; wanaomboleza kwa ajili ya nchi, nacho kilio kinapanda kutoka Yerusalemu.
"Judah mourns, and its gates languish, they sit in black 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.
Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads.
4 Ardhi imepasuka nyufa kwa sababu hakuna mvua katika nchi; wakulima wana hofu na wanafunika vichwa vyao.
Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads.
5 Hata kulungu mashambani anamwacha mtoto wake aliyezaliwa wakati huo huo kwa sababu hakuna majani.
Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her young, because there is 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.”
The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage."
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.
"Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name's sake, Jehovah; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.
8 Ee Tumaini la Israeli, Mwokozi wake wakati wa taabu, kwa nini unakuwa kama mgeni katika nchi, kama msafiri anayekaa kwa usiku mmoja tu?
Hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night?
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 should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can't save? Yet you, Jehovah, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us."
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 says Jehovah to this people, "Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Jehovah does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins."
11 Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Usiombe kwa ajili ya mafanikio ya watu hawa.
Jehovah said to me, "Do not pray 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 cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the 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.’”
Then I said, "Ah, Jehovah. Look, the prophets tell them, 'You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured 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.
Then Jehovah said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I did not send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit 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 says Jehovah concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I did not send them, yet they 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.
The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on 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.
"You shall say this word to them, 'Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound.
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 field, then, look, the slain with the sword. And if I enter into the city, then, look, those who are sick with famine. For both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.'"
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.
"Have you utterly rejected Judah? Has your soul loathed Zion? Why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and look, dismay.
20 Ee Bwana, tunatambua uovu wetu na kosa la baba zetu; kweli tumetenda dhambi dhidi yako.
We acknowledge, Jehovah, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you.
21 Kwa ajili ya jina lako usituchukie kabisa; usikidharau kiti chako cha enzi kilichotukuka. Kumbuka agano lako nasi na usilivunje.
Do not abhor us, for your name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, do not break your 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 vanities of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the sky give showers? Aren't you he, Jehovah our God? Therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things."