< Yeremia 37 >
1 Sedekia mwana wa Yosia akafanywa kuwa mfalme wa Yuda na Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, naye akatawala mahali pa Yehoyakini mwana wa Yehoyakimu.
Now Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made Zedekiah king over the land of Judah.
2 Lakini sio Sedekia, wala watumishi wake, wala watu wa nchi walisikiliza maneno ya Bwana aliyonena kupitia kwa nabii Yeremia.
But Zedekiah, his servants, and the people of the land did not listen to the words of Yahweh that he proclaimed by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet.
3 Hata hivyo, Mfalme Sedekia akamtuma Yehukali mwana wa Shelemia, pamoja na kuhani Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kwa nabii Yeremia na ujumbe huu: “Tafadhali utuombee kwa Bwana, Mungu wetu.”
So King Zedekiah, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest sent a message to Jeremiah the prophet. They said, “Pray on our behalf to Yahweh our God.”
4 Wakati huu Yeremia alikuwa huru kuingia na kutoka katikati ya watu, kwa sababu alikuwa bado hajatiwa gerezani.
Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison.
5 Jeshi la Farao lilikuwa limetoka Misri, nao Wakaldayo waliokuwa wameuzunguka Yerusalemu kwa majeshi waliposikia taarifa kuhusu jeshi hilo walijiondoa Yerusalemu.
Pharaoh's army came out from Egypt, and the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news about them and left Jerusalem.
6 Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia nabii Yeremia kusema:
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
7 “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: Mwambie mfalme wa Yuda aliyekutuma uniulize mimi, ‘Jeshi la Farao lililotoka kuja kukusaidia litarudi katika nchi yake yenyewe, yaani Misri.
“Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: This is what you will say to the king of Judah, because he has sent you to seek advice from me, 'See, Pharaoh's army, which came to help you, is about to go back to Egypt, its own land.
8 Kisha Wakaldayo watarudi na kushambulia mji huu, watauteka na kuuchoma moto.’
The Chaldeans will return. They will fight against this city, capture it, and burn it.'
9 “Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: Msijidanganye wenyewe mkifikiri, ‘Hakika Wakaldayo watatuacha na kwenda zao.’ Hakika hawatawaacha!
Yahweh says this: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, 'Surely the Chaldeans are leaving us,' for they will not leave.
10 Hata kama mngelishinda jeshi lote la Wakaldayo linalowashambulia ninyi, na wakawa ni watu waliojeruhiwa tu waliobaki kwenye mahema yao, wangetoka na kuuchoma mji huu moto.”
Even if you had defeated the entire Chaldean army that is fighting you so that only wounded men were left in their tents, they would get up and burn this city.”
11 Baada ya jeshi la Wakaldayo kujiondoa kutoka Yerusalemu kwa sababu ya jeshi la Farao,
So it was when the Chaldean army had left Jerusalem as Pharaoh's army was coming,
12 Yeremia akaanza kuondoka mjini ili kwenda nchi ya Benyamini ili akapate sehemu yake ya milki miongoni mwa watu huko.
then Jeremiah went out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin. He wanted to take possession of a tract of land there among his people.
13 Lakini alipofika kwenye Lango la Benyamini, mkuu wa walinzi, ambaye jina lake lilikuwa Iriya mwana wa Shelemia mwana wa Hanania, akamkamata Yeremia na kusema, “Wewe unakwenda kujiunga na Wakaldayo!”
As he was in the Benjamin Gate, a chief guard was there. His name was Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah. He grabbed hold of Jeremiah the prophet and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.”
14 Yeremia akasema, “Hiyo si kweli, mimi sijiungi na Wakaldayo.” Lakini Iriya hakumsikiliza; badala yake, akamkamata Yeremia na kumpeleka kwa maafisa.
But Jeremiah said, “That is not true. I am not deserting to the Chaldeans.” But Irijah did not listen to him. He took Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.
15 Wakamkasirikia Yeremia, wakaamuru apigwe, na akafungwa katika nyumba ya Yonathani mwandishi waliyokuwa wameifanya gereza.
The officials were angry with Jeremiah. They beat him and put him in prison, which had been the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had turned it into a prison.
16 Yeremia akawekwa kwenye chumba kilichofukuliwa chini, kilichojengwa kwa zege ndani ya gereza chini ya ngome, akakaa huko kwa muda mrefu.
So Jeremiah was put into an underground cell, where he stayed for many days.
17 Kisha Mfalme Sedekia akatumana aletwe katika jumba la kifalme, mahali alipomuuliza kwa siri, “Je, kuna neno lolote kutoka kwa Bwana?” Yeremia akajibu, “Ndiyo, utatiwa mikononi mwa mfalme wa Babeli.”
Then King Zedekiah sent someone who brought him to the palace. In his house, the king asked him privately, “Is there any word from Yahweh?” Jeremiah answered, “There is a word: You will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
18 Kisha Yeremia akamwambia Mfalme Sedekia, “Nimefanya kosa gani dhidi yako na maafisa wako au watu hawa, hata ukanitia gerezani?
Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, your servants, or this people so that you have placed me in prison?
19 Wako wapi manabii wako waliokutabiria wakisema, ‘Mfalme wa Babeli hatakushambulia wewe wala nchi hii?’
Where are your prophets, the ones who prophesied for you and said the king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land?
20 Lakini sasa, bwana wangu mfalme, tafadhali sikiliza. Niruhusu nilete maombi yangu mbele yako, usinirudishe kwenye nyumba ya Yonathani mwandishi, nisije nikafia humo.”
But now listen, my master the king! Let my pleas come before you. Do not return me to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”
21 Ndipo Mfalme Sedekia akatoa maagizo Yeremia awekwe katika ua wa walinzi, na apewe mkate kutoka mitaa ya waokaji kila siku mpaka mikate yote katika mji itakapokwisha. Kwa hiyo Yeremia akabaki katika ua wa walinzi.
So King Zedekiah gave an order. His servants confined Jeremiah in the courtyard of the guard. A loaf of bread was given him every day from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.