Yeremia 17
1 “Dhambi ya Yuda imechorwa kwa kalamu ya chuma, imeandikwa kwa ncha ya almasi, kwenye vibao vya mioyo yao na kwenye pembe za madhabahu zao.
Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord.
2 Hata watoto wao wanakumbuka madhabahu zao na nguzo za Ashera, kandokando ya miti iliyotanda na juu ya vilima virefu.
3 Mlima wangu katika nchi pamoja na utajiri na hazina zako zote nitazitoa ziwe nyara, pamoja na mahali pako pa juu pa kuabudia miungu kwa sababu ya dhambi katika nchi yako yote.
4 Kwa kosa lako mwenyewe utaupoteza urithi niliokupa. Nitakufanya mtumwa wa adui zako katika nchi usiyoijua, kwa kuwa umeiwasha hasira yangu, nayo itawaka milele.”
5 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Amelaaniwa yeye amtegemeaye mwanadamu, ategemeaye mwenye mwili kwa ajili ya nguvu zake, ambaye moyo wake umemwacha Bwana.
6 Atakuwa kama kichaka cha jangwani; hataona mafanikio yatakapokuja. Ataishi katika sehemu zisizo na maji, katika nchi ya chumvi ambapo hakuna yeyote aishiye humo.
And he shall be as the wild tamarisk in the desert: he shall not see when good comes; but he shall dwell in barren [places], and in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Lakini amebarikiwa mtu ambaye tumaini lake ni katika Bwana, ambaye matumaini yake ni katika Bwana.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord shall be.
8 Atakuwa kama mti uliopandwa kando ya maji uenezao mizizi yake karibu na kijito cha maji. Hauogopi wakati wa joto ujapo; majani yake ni mabichi daima. Hauna hofu katika mwaka wa ukame na hautaacha kuzaa matunda.”
And he shall be as a thriving tree by the waters, and he shall cast forth his root toward a moist place: he shall not fear when heat comes, and there shall be upon him shady branches: he shall not fear in a year of drought, and he shall not fail to bear fruit.
9 Moyo ni mdanganyifu kuliko vitu vyote, ni mwovu kupita kiasi. Ni nani awezaye kuujua?
The heart is deep beyond all things, and it is the man, and who can know him?
10 “Mimi Bwana huchunguza moyo na kuzijaribu nia, ili kumlipa mtu kwa kadiri ya mwenendo wake, kwa kadiri ya matendo yake yanavyostahili.”
I the Lord try the hearts, and prove the reins, to give to every one according to his ways, and according to the fruits of his devices.
11 Kama kware aanguaye mayai asiyoyataga, ndivyo alivyo mtu apataye mali kwa njia zisizo za haki. Maisha yake yafikapo katikati, siku zitamwacha, na mwishoni atabainika kuwa mpumbavu.
The partridge utters her voice, she gathers [eggs] which she did not lay; [so is a man] gaining his wealth unjustly; in the midst of his days [his riches] shall leave him, and at his latter end he will be a fool.
12 Kiti cha enzi kilichotukuzwa, kilichoinuliwa tangu mwanzo, ndiyo sehemu yetu ya mahali patakatifu.
An exalted throne of glory is our sanctuary.
13 Ee Bwana, uliye tumaini la Israeli, wote wakuachao wataaibika. Wale wanaogeukia mbali nawe wataandikwa mavumbini kwa sababu wamemwacha Bwana, chemchemi ya maji yaliyo hai.
O Lord, the hope of Israel, let all that have left you be ashamed, let them that have revolted be written on the earth, because they have forsaken the fountain of life, the Lord.
14 Uniponye, Ee Bwana, nami nitaponyeka; uniokoe nami nitaokoka, kwa maana wewe ndiwe ninayekusifu.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my boast.
15 Wao huendelea kuniambia, “Liko wapi neno la Bwana? Sasa na litimie!”
Behold, they say to me, Where is the word of the Lord? let it come.
16 Sijakukimbia na kuacha kuwa mchungaji wako; unajua sijaitamani siku ya kukata tamaa. Kile kipitacho midomoni mwangu ki wazi mbele yako.
But I have not been weary of following you, nor have I desired the day of man; you know; the [words] that proceed out of my lips are before your face.
17 Usiwe kwangu kitu cha kunitia hofu kuu; wewe ndiwe kimbilio langu katika siku ya maafa.
Be not to me a stranger, [but] spare me in the evil day.
18 Watesi wangu na waaibishwe, lakini nilinde mimi nisiaibike; wao na watiwe hofu kuu, lakini unilinde mimi na hofu kuu. Waletee siku ya maafa; waangamize kwa maangamizi maradufu.
Let them that persecute me be ashamed, but let me not be ashamed: let them be alarmed, but let me not be alarmed: bring upon them the evil day, crush them with double destruction.
19 Hili ndilo Bwana aliloniambia: “Nenda ukasimame kwenye lango la watu, mahali ambako wafalme wa Yuda huingilia na kutokea, simama pia kwenye malango mengine yote ya Yerusalemu.
Thus says the Lord; Go and stand in the gates of the children of your people, by which the kings of Juda enter, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem:
20 Waambie, ‘Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi wafalme wa Yuda, nanyi watu wote wa Yuda, na kila mmoja aishiye Yerusalemu apitaye katika malango haya.
and you shall say to them, Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Juda, and all Judea, and all Jerusalem, [all] who go in at these gates:
21 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Jihadharini msije mkabeba mzigo siku ya Sabato, wala kuingiza mzigo kupitia malango ya Yerusalemu.
thus says the Lord; Take heed to your souls, and take up no burdens on the sabbath-day, and go not forth [through] the gates of Jerusalem;
22 Msitoe mizigo nje ya nyumba zenu wala kufanya kazi yoyote wakati wa Sabato, lakini itakaseni siku ya Sabato, kama nilivyowaamuru baba zenu.
and carry forth no burdens out of your houses on the sabbath-day, and you shall do no work: sanctify the sabbath-day, as I commanded your fathers.
23 Hata hivyo hawakusikiliza wala kujali, walishupaza shingo zao, na hawakutaka kusikia wala kukubali adhabu.
But they listened not, and inclined not their ear, but stiffened their neck more than their fathers [did], so as not to hear me, and not to receive correction.
24 Lakini mkiwa waangalifu kunitii, asema Bwana, nanyi msipoleta mzigo wowote kupitia malango ya mji huu wakati wa Sabato, lakini mkaitakasa siku ya Sabato kwa kutofanya kazi siku hiyo,
And it shall come to pass, if you will listen to me, says the Lord, to carry in no burdens through the gates of this city on the sabbath-day, and to sanctify the sabbath-day, so as to do no work [upon it],
25 ndipo wafalme wakaao juu ya kiti cha enzi cha Daudi wataingia kupitia malango ya mji huu, pamoja na maafisa wao. Wao na maafisa wao watakuja wakiwa wamepanda magari na farasi, wakiandamana na watu wa Yuda na wale waishio Yerusalemu, nao mji huu utakaliwa na watu daima.
that there shall enter through the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, and riding on their chariots and horses, they, and their princes, the men of Juda, and the dwellers in Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever.
26 Watu watakuja kutoka miji ya Yuda na vijiji vinavyoizunguka Yerusalemu, kutoka nchi ya Benyamini na chini ya vilima vya magharibi, kutoka nchi ya vilima na Negebu, wakileta sadaka za kuteketezwa na dhabihu, sadaka za nafaka, uvumba na sadaka za shukrani kwenye nyumba ya Bwana.
And [men] shall come out of the cities of Juda, and from round about Jerusalem, and out of the land of Benjamin, and out of the plain country, and from the hill country, and from the south [country], bringing whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and incense, and manna, and frankincense, bringing praise to the house of the Lord.
27 Lakini ikiwa hamtanitii mimi kwa kuitakasa Sabato na kwa kutochukua mzigo wowote mnapoingia katika malango ya Yerusalemu wakati wa Sabato, basi nitawasha moto usiozimika katika malango ya Yerusalemu utakaoteketeza ngome zake.’”
But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to me to sanctify the sabbath-day, to bear no burdens, nor go in [with them by] the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the streets of Jerusalem, and shall not be quenched.
