< Yeremia 21 >
1 Neno lilimjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana wakati Mfalme Sedekia alipowatuma Pashuri mwana wa Malkiya, na kuhani Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kwake, kusema:
The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
2 “Tuulizie sasa kwa Bwana, kwa sababu Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli anatushambulia. Labda Bwana atatenda maajabu kwa ajili yetu kama nyakati zilizopita, ili Nebukadneza atuondokee.”
"Please inquire of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us: perhaps Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us."
3 Lakini Yeremia akawajibu, “Mwambieni Sedekia,
Then Jeremiah said to them, "You shall tell Zedekiah:
4 ‘Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Ninakaribia kuwageuzia silaha za vita zilizo mikononi mwenu, ambazo mnatumia kupigana na mfalme wa Babeli na Wakaldayo ambao wako nje ya ukuta wakiwazunguka kwa jeshi. Nami nitawakusanya ndani ya mji huu.
'Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel, "Look, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
5 Mimi mwenyewe nitapigana dhidi yenu kwa mkono wangu ulionyooshwa na mkono wa nguvu, kwa hasira na ghadhabu kali na ukali mwingi.
I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.
6 Nitawaangamiza waishio katika mji huu, watu na wanyama, nao watauawa kwa tauni ya kutisha.
I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal: they shall die of a great pestilence.
7 Baada ya hayo, nitamtia Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda, maafisa wake na watu wa mji huu ambao walinusurika tauni, upanga na njaa, mkononi mwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, na kwa adui zao wale wanaotafuta uhai wao. Atawaua kwa upanga; hatakuwa na rehema juu yao au huruma wala kuwasikitikia,’ asema Bwana.
Afterward," says Jehovah, "I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life: and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy."'
8 “Zaidi ya hayo, waambie watu hawa, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tazama, naweka mbele yenu njia ya uzima, na njia ya mauti.
To this people you shall say, "Thus says Jehovah: 'Look, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
9 Yeyote atakayekaa katika mji huu atakufa kwa upanga, njaa au tauni. Lakini yeyote atakayetoka na kujisalimisha kwa Wakaldayo ambao wameuzunguka mji huu kwa jeshi, atanusurika, naye ataishi.
He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey.
10 Nimekusudia kuufanyia mji huu jambo baya, wala si jema. Utatiwa mikononi mwa mfalme wa Babeli, naye atauteketeza kwa moto, asema Bwana.’
For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good,' says Jehovah: 'it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.'
11 “Zaidi ya hayo, ambia nyumba ya mfalme ya Yuda, ‘Sikia neno la Bwana,
Touching the house of the king of Judah, hear the word of Jehovah:
12 Ewe nyumba ya Daudi, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: “‘Hukumuni kwa haki kila asubuhi, mwokoeni mikononi mwa mdhalimu yeye aliyetekwa nyara, la sivyo ghadhabu yangu italipuka na kuwaka kama moto kwa sababu ya uovu mlioufanya: itawaka na hakuna wa kuizima.
'House of David, thus says Jehovah, "Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
13 Niko kinyume nawe, ee Yerusalemu, wewe uishiye juu ya bonde hili kwenye uwanda wa juu wa miamba, asema Bwana, wewe usemaye, “Ni nani awezaye kuja kinyume chetu? Nani ataingia mahali pa kimbilio letu?”
Look, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, and of the rock of the plain," says Jehovah; "you that say, 'Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter into our habitations?'
14 Nitawaadhibu kama istahilivyo matendo yenu, asema Bwana. Nitawasha moto katika misitu yenu ambao utateketeza kila kitu kinachowazunguka.’”
I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings," says Jehovah; "and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her."'"