Yeremia 31
1 “Wakati huo, nitakuwa Mungu wa koo zote za Israeli nao watakuwa watu wangu,” asema Bwana.
At the same time, saith the LORD, I will 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 [who were] left by the sword found grace in the wilderness; [even] Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
3 Bwana alitutokea wakati uliopita, akisema: “Nimekupenda kwa upendo wa milele, nimekuvuta kwa wema.
The LORD appeared of old to me, [saying], I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.
4 Nitakujenga tena nawe utajengeka upya, ewe Bikira Israeli. Utachukua tena matari yako na kwenda kucheza na wenye furaha.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; thou shalt again 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.
Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat [them] as common things.
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 upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion to 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 among the chief of the nations: publish 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 borders 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 return thither.
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 the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am 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 will 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 redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] 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.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the hight of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow 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, both young men and 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 was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] 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 thy eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again 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 in thy end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again 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 [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: 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 I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote upon [my] thigh: I was ashamed, and even confounded, because I bore 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 my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy 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 way-marks, make thee high heaps: set thy heart towards the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest; turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
22 Utatangatanga hata lini, ee binti usiye mwaminifu? Bwana ameumba kitu kipya duniani: mwanamke atamlinda mwanaume.”
How long wilt thou wander about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass 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; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in her cities, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, mountain of holiness.
24 Watu wataishi pamoja katika Yuda na miji yake yote, wakulima na wote wanaohamahama na mifugo yao.
And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all her cities together, husbandmen, and they [that] go forth with flocks.
25 Nitawaburudisha waliochoka na kuwatuliza walio na huzuni.”
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
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 to 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] as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, 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 a sour grape, 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 grape, 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; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to 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 [shall be] 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 write it in their hearts; and 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 neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin 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 divideth the sea when its waves 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 those 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, I will 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 Hananeel to 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 forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
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 to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse-gate towards the east, [shall be] holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
