< Yeremia 35 >

1 Hili ndilo neno lililomjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana, wakati wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mwana wa Yosia mfalme wa Yuda:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, saying:
2 “Nenda kwa jamaa ya Warekabi, uwaalike waje kwenye moja ya vyumba vya pembeni vya nyumba ya Bwana, na uwape divai wanywe.”
“Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and lead them into the house of the Lord, into one of the halls of the treasuries. And you shall give them wine to drink.”
3 Basi nikaenda kumwita Yaazania mwana wa Yeremia, mwana wa Habazinia, na ndugu zake na wanawe wote, yaani jamaa nzima ya Warekabi.
And so I took Jaazaniah, the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and the entire house of the Rechabites,
4 Nikawaleta katika nyumba ya Bwana, ndani ya chumba cha wana wa Hanani mwana wa Igdalia mtu wa Mungu. Kilikuwa karibu na chumba cha maafisa, ambacho kilikuwa juu ya kile cha Maaseya mwana wa Shalumu, aliyekuwa bawabu.
and I led them into the house of the Lord, to the treasury of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was near the treasury of the princes, above the storehouse of Maaseiah, the son of Shallum, who was the guardian of the entrance.
5 Kisha nikaweka mabakuli yaliyojaa divai na baadhi ya vikombe mbele ya watu wa jamaa ya Warekabi na kuwaambia, “Kunyweni divai.”
And I placed before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls filled with wine, and chalices. And I said to them, “Drink wine.”
6 Lakini wao wakajibu, “Sisi hatunywi divai, kwa sababu baba yetu Yonadabu mwana wa Rekabu, alitupa agizo hili: ‘Ninyi wala wazao wenu kamwe msinywe divai.
And they responded: “We will not drink wine. For Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, instructed us, saying: ‘You shall not drink wine, you and your sons, in perpetuity.
7 Pia msijenge nyumba kamwe, wala kuotesha mbegu au kupanda mashamba ya mizabibu. Kamwe msiwe na kitu chochote katika hivi, lakini siku zote lazima muishi kwenye mahema. Ndipo mtakapoishi kwa muda mrefu katika nchi ambayo ninyi ni wahamiaji.’
And you shall not build houses, and you shall not sow any seeds, and you shall not plant or have vineyards. Instead, you shall live in tents all your days, so that you may live many days upon the face of the earth, in which you are sojourners.’
8 Tumetii kila kitu ambacho baba yetu Yonadabu mwana wa Rekabu alituamuru. Sisi wenyewe wala wake zetu wala wana wetu na binti zetu kamwe hatujanywa divai
Therefore, we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he has commanded us, so that we do not drink wine all our days, we and our wives, our sons and daughters.
9 wala kujenga nyumba za kuishi au kuwa na mashamba ya mizabibu, mashamba au mazao.
And we do not build houses in which to live. And we do not have vineyard, or field, or seed to sow.
10 Tumeishi katika mahema na tumetii kikamilifu kila kitu alichotuamuru baba yetu Yonadabu.
Instead, we live in tents, and we have been obedient in accord with all that Jonadab, our father, has instructed us.
11 Lakini wakati Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli alipoivamia nchi hii, tulisema, ‘Njooni, lazima twende Yerusalemu ili kukimbia majeshi ya Wakaldayo na ya Washamu.’ Kwa hiyo tumeishi Yerusalemu.”
But when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had ascended to our land, we said: ‘Come and let us enter into Jerusalem, before the face of the army of the Chaldeans, and before the face of the army of Syria.’ And we have remained in Jerusalem.”
12 Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia Yeremia kusema:
And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying:
13 “Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, aliye Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Nenda ukawaambie watu wa Yuda na watu wa Yerusalemu, ‘Je, hamwezi kujifunza kutoka kwa wana wa Rekabu, na kuyatii maneno yangu?’ asema Bwana.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go, and say to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not accept discipline, so that you obey my words, says the Lord?
14 ‘Yonadabu mwana wa Rekabu aliwaagiza wanawe wasinywe divai, na agizo hilo wamelishika mpaka leo hawanywi divai, kwa sababu wanatii amri ya baba yao. Lakini nimenena nanyi tena na tena, lakini hamkunitii mimi.
The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, in which he instructed his sons, so that they would not drink wine, have prevailed. And they have not drunk wine, even to this day. For they have obeyed the instruction of their father. But I have spoken to you, rising and speaking from early morning, and you did not obey me.
15 Tena na tena nimewatuma watumishi wangu wote manabii kwenu. Wakasema, “Kila mmoja wenu ni lazima ageuke na kuacha njia zake mbaya, na kuyatengeneza matendo yake. Msifuate miungu mingine ili kuitumikia. Ndipo mtakapoishi katika nchi niliyowapa ninyi na baba zenu.” Lakini hamkujali wala kunisikiliza.
And I have sent to you all my servants, the prophets, rising at first light, and sending, and saying: ‘Convert, each one from his wicked way, and make your intentions good. And do not choose to follow strange gods, nor shall you worship them. And then you shall live in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers.’ And yet you have not inclined your ear, and you have not heeded me.
16 Wazao wa Yonadabu mwana wa Rekabu walitimiza amri ambayo baba yao aliwapa, lakini watu hawa hawakunitii mimi.’
So the sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, have remained firm in the commandment of their father, which he instructed to them, while this people has not been obedient to me.
17 “Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: ‘Sikilizeni! Nitaleta juu ya Yuda na juu ya kila mmoja aishiye Yerusalemu kila aina ya maafa niliyotamka dhidi yao. Nilinena nao, lakini hawakusikiliza. Niliwaita, lakini hawakujibu.’”
For this reason, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will lead over Judah and over all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every evil that I have declared against them. For I have spoken to them, and they have not listened. I have called to them, and they have not responded to me.”
18 Kisha Yeremia akaiambia jamaa ya Warekabi, “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Mmetii amri ya baba yenu Yonadabu, na mmefuata mafundisho yake yote na mmefanya kila kitu alichowaamuru.’
Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab, your father, and have kept all his precepts, and have done all that he has instructed you,
19 Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: ‘Yonadabu mwana wa Rekabu hatakosa kamwe kuwa na mtu wa kunitumikia mimi.’”
because of this, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: There will not be a man lacking from the stock of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, standing in my sight, for all days.”

< Yeremia 35 >