Yeremia 31
1 “Wakati huo, nitakuwa Mungu wa koo zote za Israeli nao watakuwa watu wangu,” asema Bwana.
At that time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
2 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Watu watakaopona upanga watapata upendeleo jangwani; nitakuja niwape Israeli pumziko.”
Thus saith the LORD: The people that were left of the sword have found grace in the wilderness, even Israel, when I go to cause him to rest.
3 Bwana alitutokea wakati uliopita, akisema: “Nimekupenda kwa upendo wa milele, nimekuvuta kwa wema.
'From afar the LORD appeared unto me.' 'Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with affection have I drawn thee.
4 Nitakujenga tena nawe utajengeka upya, ewe Bikira Israeli. Utachukua tena matari yako na kwenda kucheza na wenye furaha.
Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; again shalt thou be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
5 Utapanda tena shamba la mizabibu juu ya vilima vya Samaria, wakulima watapanda na kufurahia matunda yake.
Again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall have the use thereof.
6 Itakuja siku wakati walinzi watakapowapigia kelele juu ya vilima vya Efraimu wakisema, ‘Njooni, twendeni juu Sayuni, kwake Bwana Mungu wetu.’”
For there shall be a day, that the watchmen shall call upon the mount Ephraim: arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, unto the LORD our God.'
7 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Mwimbieni Yakobo kwa furaha, mpigieni kelele aliye mkuu wa mataifa. Zifanyeni sifa zenu zisikike, nanyi mseme, ‘Ee Bwana, okoa watu wako, mabaki ya Israeli.’
For thus saith the LORD: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout at the head of the nations; announce ye, praise ye, and say: 'O LORD, save Thy people, The remnant of Israel.'
8 Tazama, nitawaleta kutoka nchi ya kaskazini na kuwakusanya kutoka miisho ya dunia. Miongoni mwao watakuwepo vipofu na viwete, mama wajawazito na wenye utungu wa kuzaa. Umati mkubwa wa watu utarudi.
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together; a great company shall they return hither.
9 Watakuja wakilia; wataomba wakati ninawarudisha. Nitawaongoza kando ya vijito vya maji katika mapito yaliyo tambarare ambapo hawatajikwaa, kwa sababu mimi ndimi baba wa Israeli, naye Efraimu ni mzaliwa wangu wa kwanza.
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born.
10 “Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi mataifa, litangazeni katika nchi za pwani ya mbali: ‘Yeye aliyewatawanya Israeli atawakusanya na atalichunga kundi lake la kondoo kama mchungaji.’
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say: 'He that scattered Israel doth gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.'
11 Kwa kuwa Bwana atamlipia fidia Yakobo na kuwakomboa mkononi mwa walio na nguvu kuliko wao.
For the LORD hath ransomed Jacob, and He redeemeth him from the hand of him that is stronger than he.
12 Watakuja na kupiga kelele kwa furaha katika miinuko ya Sayuni; watashangilia ukarimu wa Bwana: nafaka, divai mpya na mafuta, wana-kondoo wachanga na ndama wa makundi ya ngʼombe nitakaowapa. Watakuwa kama bustani iliyonyeshewa vizuri, wala hawatahuzunika tena.
And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of the LORD, to the corn, and to the wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not pine any more at all.
13 Kisha wanawali watacheza na kufurahi, vijana waume na wazee pia. Nitageuza maombolezo yao kuwa furaha, nitawapa faraja na furaha badala ya huzuni.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 Nitawashibisha makuhani kwa wingi, nao watu wangu watajazwa kwa ukarimu wangu,” asema Bwana.
And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD.
15 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Sauti imesikika huko Rama, maombolezo na kilio kikubwa, Raheli akiwalilia watoto wake na anakataa kufarijiwa, kwa sababu watoto wake hawako tena.”
Thus saith the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.
16 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Izuie sauti yako kulia, na macho yako yasitoe machozi, kwa kuwa kazi yako itapata thawabu,” asema Bwana. “Watarudi kutoka nchi ya adui.
Thus saith the LORD: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 Kwa hiyo kuna tumaini kwa siku zijazo,” asema Bwana. “Watoto wako watarudi nchi yao yenyewe.
And there is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return to their own border.
18 “Hakika nimeyasikia maombolezo ya Efraimu: ‘Ulinirudi kama ndama mkaidi, nami nimekubali kutii. Unirudishe, nami nitarudi, kwa sababu wewe ndiwe Bwana, Mungu wangu.
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf untrained; turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the LORD my God.
19 Baada ya kupotea, nilitubu; baada ya kuelewa, nilijipiga kifua. Niliaibika na kuona haya kwa sababu niliibeba aibu ya ujana wangu.’
Surely after that I was turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.'
20 Je, Efraimu si mwanangu mpendwa, mtoto ninayependezwa naye? Ingawa mara kwa mara ninanena dhidi yake, bado ninamkumbuka. Kwa hiyo moyo wangu unamwonea shauku, nina huruma kubwa kwa ajili yake,” asema Bwana.
Is Ephraim a darling son unto Me? Is he a child that is dandled? For as often as I speak of him, I do earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearneth for him, I will surely have compassion upon him, saith the LORD.
21 “Weka alama za barabara, weka vibao vya kuelekeza. Zingatia vyema njia kuu, barabara ile unayoipita. Rudi, ee Bikira Israeli, rudi kwenye miji yako.
Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the high-way, even the way by which thou wentest; Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these thy cities.
22 Utatangatanga hata lini, ee binti usiye mwaminifu? Bwana ameumba kitu kipya duniani: mwanamke atamlinda mwanaume.”
How long wilt thou turn away coyly, O thou backsliding daughter? For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall court a man.
23 Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo, “Nitakapowarudisha toka nchi ya kutekwa kwenu, watu walio katika nchi ya Yuda na miji yake kwa mara nyingine tena watatumia maneno haya: ‘Bwana akubariki, ee makao ya haki, ee mlima mtakatifu.’
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall turn their captivity: 'The LORD bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.'
24 Watu wataishi pamoja katika Yuda na miji yake yote, wakulima na wote wanaohamahama na mifugo yao.
And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein together: the husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
25 Nitawaburudisha waliochoka na kuwatuliza walio na huzuni.”
For I have satiated the weary soul, and every pining soul have I replenished.
26 Kwa jambo hili niliamka na kuangalia pande zote. Usingizi wangu ulikuwa mtamu kwangu.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27 Bwana asema, “Siku zinakuja, nitakapoongeza idadi ya watu, na kuzidisha hesabu ya mifugo katika nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
28 Kama vile nilivyowaangalia ili kungʼoa na kubomoa, kuharibu, kuangamiza na kuleta maafa juu yao, vivyo hivyo nitawaangalia ili kujenga na kupanda,” asema Bwana.
And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down, and to overthrow and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the LORD.
29 “Katika siku hizo, watu hawatasema tena, “‘Baba wamekula zabibu chachu, nayo meno ya watoto yakatiwa ganzi.’
In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
30 Badala yake, kila mmoja atakufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe; yeyote alaye zabibu chachu, meno yake mwenyewe yatatiwa ganzi.
But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 “Siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “nitakapofanya agano jipya na nyumba ya Israeli na nyumba ya Yuda.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah;
32 Halitafanana na agano nililofanya na baba zao wakati nilipowashika mkono kuwaongoza watoke Misri, kwa sababu walivunja agano langu, ijapokuwa nilikuwa mume kwao,” asema Bwana.
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; forasmuch as they broke My covenant, although I was a lord over them, saith the LORD.
33 “Hili ndilo agano nitakalofanya na nyumba ya Israeli baada ya siku zile,” asema Bwana. “Nitaweka sheria yangu katika nia zao, na kuiandika mioyoni mwao. Nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu.
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people;
34 Mtu hatamfundisha tena jirani yake, wala mtu kumfundisha ndugu yake akisema, ‘Mjue Bwana Mungu,’ kwa sababu wote watanijua mimi, tangu aliye mdogo kabisa kwao, hadi aliye mkuu sana,” asema Bwana. “Kwa sababu nitasamehe uovu wao, wala sitazikumbuka dhambi zao tena.”
and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: 'Know the LORD'; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
35 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyeweka jua liwake mchana, yeye anayeamuru mwezi na nyota kungʼaa usiku, yeye aichafuaye bahari ili mawimbi yake yangurume; Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake:
Thus saith the LORD, Who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, that the waves thereof roar, the LORD of hosts is His name:
36 “Ikiwa amri hizi zitaondoka machoni pangu,” asema Bwana, “ndipo wazao wa Israeli watakoma kuwa taifa mbele yangu daima.”
If these ordinances depart from before Me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.
37 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Ikiwa mbingu zilizo juu zitaweza kupimika na misingi ya dunia chini ikaweza kuchunguzwa, ndipo nitakapowakataa wazao wote wa Israeli kwa sababu ya yote waliyoyatenda,” asema Bwana.
Thus saith the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
38 “Siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “wakati mji huu utajengwa upya kwa ajili yangu, kuanzia mnara wa Hananeli hadi Lango la Pembeni.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner.
39 Kamba ya kupimia itaanzia hapo kuendelea hadi kwenye kilima cha Garebu, na kisha kugeuka kuelekea Goa.
And the measuring line shall yet go out straight forward unto the hill Gareb, and shall turn about unto Goah.
40 Bonde lote watupwapo maiti na majivu pia na matuta yote kutoka Bonde la Kidroni upande wa mashariki hadi pembe ya Lango la Farasi, itakuwa takatifu kwa Bwana. Kamwe mji huu hautangʼolewa tena wala kubomolewa.”
And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
