< 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.
The sin of Judah [is] written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: [it is] graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
2 Hata watoto wao wanakumbuka madhabahu zao na nguzo za Ashera, kandokando ya miti iliyotanda na juu ya vilima virefu.
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
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.
O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance [and] all thy treasures to the spoil, [and] thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
4 Kwa kosa lako mwenyewe utaupoteza urithi niliokupa. Nitakufanya mtumwa wa adui zako katika nchi usiyoijua, kwa kuwa umeiwasha hasira yangu, nayo itawaka milele.”
And thou, even thyself, shall discontinue from thy heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thy enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in my anger, [which] shall burn for ever.
5 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Amelaaniwa yeye amtegemeaye mwanadamu, ategemeaye mwenye mwili kwa ajili ya nguvu zake, ambaye moyo wake umemwacha Bwana.
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
6 Atakuwa kama kichaka cha jangwani; hataona mafanikio yatakapokuja. Ataishi katika sehemu zisizo na maji, katika nchi ya chumvi ambapo hakuna yeyote aishiye humo.
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited.
7 “Lakini amebarikiwa mtu ambaye tumaini lake ni katika Bwana, ambaye matumaini yake ni katika Bwana.
Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
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.”
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the year of drouth, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9 Moyo ni mdanganyifu kuliko vitu vyote, ni mwovu kupita kiasi. Ni nani awezaye kuujua?
The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
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 search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
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.
[As] the partridge sitteth [on eggs], and hatcheth [them] not; [so] he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
12 Kiti cha enzi kilichotukuzwa, kilichoinuliwa tangu mwanzo, ndiyo sehemu yetu ya mahali patakatifu.
A glorious high throne from the beginning [is] the place of 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, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, [and] they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
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 thou [art] my praise.
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 now.
16 Sijakukimbia na kuacha kuwa mchungaji wako; unajua sijaitamani siku ya kukata tamaa. Kile kipitacho midomoni mwangu ki wazi mbele yako.
As for me, I have not hastened from [being] a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which was uttered by my lips was [right] before thee.
17 Usiwe kwangu kitu cha kunitia hofu kuu; wewe ndiwe kimbilio langu katika siku ya maafa.
Be not a terror to me: thou [art] my hope in the day of evil.
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 be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy 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 said the LORD to me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in, 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 say to them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter by these gates:
21 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Jihadharini msije mkabeba mzigo siku ya Sabato, wala kuingiza mzigo kupitia malango ya Yerusalemu.
Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring [it] in by 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.
Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye 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 obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
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 ye diligently hearken to me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
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.
Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain 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 they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of 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 if ye will not hearken to me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.