< Yeremia 41 >
1 Katika mwezi wa saba Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania mwana wa Elishama, aliyekuwa wa uzao wa mfalme na pia alikuwa mmoja wa maafisa wa mfalme, akaja pamoja na watu kumi kwa Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu huko Mispa. Walipokuwa wakila pamoja huko,
The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord (now Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the country of his dominion, were warring against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Juda, ) saying,
2 Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania pamoja na wale watu kumi waliokuwa pamoja naye waliinuka na kumuua Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu mwana wa Shafani kwa upanga, wakamuua yule ambaye mfalme wa Babeli alikuwa amemteua awe mtawala wa nchi.
Thus has the Lord said; Go to Sedekias king of Juda, and thou shalt say to him, Thus has the Lord said, This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it, and shall burn it with fire:
3 Ishmaeli akawaua pia Wayahudi wote waliokuwa na Gedalia huko Mispa, pamoja na askari wa Kikaldayo waliokuwa huko.
and thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt certainly be taken, and shalt be given into his hands; and thine eyes shall see his eyes, and thou shalt enter into Babylon.
4 Siku moja baada ya kuuawa kwa siri kwa Gedalia, kabla mtu yeyote hajafahamu jambo hilo,
But hear the word of the Lord, O Sedekias king of Juda; Thus saith the Lord,
5 watu themanini waliokuwa wamenyoa ndevu zao, waliorarua nguo zao na kujikatakata walikuja kutoka Shekemu, Shilo na Samaria wakileta sadaka za nafaka na uvumba katika nyumba ya Bwana.
Thou shalt die in peace: and as they wept for thy fathers that reigned before thee, they shall weep also for thee, [saying], Ah lord! and they shall lament for thee down to the grave: for I have spoken the word, said the Lord.
6 Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania akaondoka Mispa ili kwenda kuwalaki, huku akilia alipokuwa akienda. Alipokutana nao, akasema, “Karibuni kwa Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu.”
And Jeremias spoke to king Sedekias all these words in Jerusalem.
7 Walipoingia mjini, Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania na wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye wakawachinja na kuwatupa ndani ya kisima.
And the host of the king of Babylon warred against Jerusalem, and against the cities of Juda, and against Lachis, and against Azeca: for these strong cities were left among the cities of Juda.
8 Lakini watu kumi miongoni mwao wakamwambia Ishmaeli, “Sisi usituue! Tuna ngano na shayiri, mafuta na asali, vilivyofichwa katika shamba.” Kwa hiyo akawaacha na hakuwaua pamoja na wale wengine.
The word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, after king Sedekias had concluded a covenant with the people, to proclaim a release;
9 Basi kile kisima ambacho alitupa zile maiti za watu aliowaua pamoja na Gedalia kilikuwa ni kile kisima ambacho Mfalme Asa alikifanya sehemu ya ulinzi wake dhidi ya Baasha mfalme wa Israeli. Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania akakijaza kisima hicho kwa maiti.
That every one should set at liberty his servant, and every one has handmaid, the Hebrew man and Hebrew woman, that no man of Juda should be a bondman.
10 Ishmaeli akawafanya mateka watu wote ambao Nebuzaradani kiongozi wa walinzi wa mfalme alikuwa amewaacha huko Mispa na kumweka Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu juu yao: walikuwa binti za mfalme pamoja na watu wote aliokuwa amewaacha huko. Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania akawachukua mateka na kuondoka nao, akavuka kwenda kwa Waamoni.
Then all the nobles, and all the people who had entered into the covenant, [engaging] to set free every one his man-servant, and every one his maid, turned,
11 Yohanani mwana wa Karea na maafisa wote wa jeshi waliokuwa pamoja naye waliposikia juu ya uhalifu wote ambao Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania alikuwa ameufanya,
and gave them over to be men-servants and maid-servants.
12 waliwachukua watu wao wote kwenda kupigana na Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania. Wakakutana naye karibu na bwawa kubwa huko Gibeoni.
And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying,
13 Ikawa watu wote waliokuwa na Ishmaeli walipomwona Yohanani mwana wa Karea pamoja na maafisa wa jeshi waliokuwa pamoja naye, wakafurahi.
Thus saith the Lord; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day wherein I took them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,
14 Watu wote ambao Ishmaeli alikuwa amewachukua mateka huko Mispa wakageuka na kumfuata Yohanani mwana wa Karea.
When six years are accomplished, thou shalt set free thy brother the Hebrew, who shall be sold to thee: for he shall serve thee six years, and [then] thou shalt let him go free: but they hearkened not to me, and inclined not their ear.
15 Lakini Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania pamoja na watu wake wanane wakamtoroka Yohanani na kukimbilia kwa Waamoni.
And this day they turned to do that which was right in my sight, to proclaim every one the release of his neighbour; and they had concluded a covenant before me, in the house whereon my name is called.
16 Ndipo Yohanani mwana wa Karea pamoja na maafisa wote wa jeshi waliokuwa pamoja naye wakawaongoza wote walionusurika kutoka Mispa, ambao walipona kutoka mikononi mwa Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania baada yake kumuua Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu: walikuwa askari, wanawake, watoto na matowashi aliowaleta kutoka Gibeoni.
But ye turned and profaned my name, to bring back every one his servant, and every one his handmaid, whom ye had sent forth free [and] at their own disposal, to be to you men-servants and maid-servants.
17 Kisha wakaenda mbele na kutua Geruth-Kimhamu karibu na Bethlehemu wakiwa njiani kwenda Misri
Therefore thus said the Lord; Ye have not hearkened to me, to proclaim a release every one to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a release to you, to the sword, and to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will give you up to dispersion [among] all the kingdoms of the earth.
18 ili kuwatoroka Wakaldayo. Waliwaogopa kwa sababu Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania alikuwa amemuua Gedalia mwana wa Ahikamu, ambaye alikuwa amewekwa na mfalme wa Babeli kuwa mtawala wa nchi.
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not kept my covenant, which they made before me, the calf which they prepared to sacrifice with it,
the princes of Juda, and the men in power, and the priests, and the people;
I will even give them to their enemies, and their carcases shall be food for the birds of the sky and for the wild beasts of the earth.
And I will give Sedekias king of Judea, and their princes, into the hands of their enemies, and the host of the king of Babylon [shall come upon] them that run away from them.
Behold, I [will] give command, saith the Lord, and will bring them back to this land; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire, and the cities of Juda; and I will make them desolate without inhabitants.