Yeremia 50
1 Hili ndilo neno alilosema Bwana kupitia nabii Yeremia kuhusu Babeli na nchi ya Wakaldayo:
This is the word that the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans:
2 “Tangazeni na mhubiri katikati ya mataifa, twekeni bendera na mkahubiri; msiache kitu chochote, bali semeni, ‘Babeli utatekwa; Beli ataaibishwa, Merodaki atajazwa na hofu kuu. Sanamu zake zitaaibishwa na vinyago vyake vitajazwa hofu kuu.’
“Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’
3 Taifa kutoka kaskazini litamshambulia, na kuifanya nchi yake ukiwa. Hakuna hata mmoja atakayeishi ndani yake, watu na wanyama wataikimbia.
For a nation from the north will come against her; it will make her land a desolation. No one will live in it; both man and beast will flee.”
4 “Katika siku hizo, wakati huo,” asema Bwana, “watu wa Israeli pamoja na watu wa Yuda wataenda wakilia ili kumtafuta Bwana Mungu wao.
“In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the LORD their God.
5 Wataiuliza njia iendayo Sayuni na kuelekeza nyuso zao huko. Watakuja na kuambatana na Bwana katika agano la milele ambalo halitasahaulika.
They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
6 “Watu wangu wamekuwa kondoo waliopotea; wachungaji wao wamewapotosha na kuwasababisha kuzurura juu ya milima. Walitangatanga juu ya mlima na kilima, na kusahau mahali pao wenyewe pa kupumzikia.
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
7 Yeyote aliyewakuta aliwala; adui zao walisema, ‘Sisi hatuna hatia, kwa kuwa wao walitenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana, malisho yao halisi, Bwana, aliye tumaini la baba zao.’
All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 “Kimbieni kutoka Babeli; ondokeni katika nchi ya Wakaldayo tena kuweni kama mbuzi wale waongozao kundi.
Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock.
9 Kwa maana nitaamsha na kuleta dhidi ya Babeli muungano wa mataifa makubwa kutoka nchi ya kaskazini. Watashika nafasi zao dhidi yake, naye kutokea kaskazini atatekwa. Mishale yao itakuwa kama mishale ya mashujaa walio hodari, ambao hawawezi kurudi mikono mitupu.
For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.
10 Kwa hiyo Ukaldayo utatekwa nyara; wote wamtekao nyara watapata za kutosha,” asema Bwana.
Chaldea will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,”
11 “Kwa sababu hushangilia na kufurahi, wewe utekaye urithi wangu, kwa sababu unachezacheza kama mtamba anayepura nafaka, na kulia kama farasi dume,
“Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph— you who plunder My inheritance— because you frolic like a heifer treading grain and neigh like stallions,
12 mama yako ataaibika mno, yeye aliyekuzaa atatahayari. Atakuwa mdogo kuliko mataifa mengine yote, atakuwa nyika, nchi kame na jangwa.
your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who bore you will be disgraced. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13 Kwa sababu ya hasira ya Bwana hatakaliwa na mtu, lakini ataachwa ukiwa kabisa. Wote watakaopita Babeli watatiwa hofu na kudhihaki kwa sababu ya majeraha yake yote.
Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will become completely desolate. All who pass through Babylon will be horrified and will hiss at all her wounds.
14 “Shikeni nafasi zenu kuzunguka Babeli, enyi nyote mvutao upinde. Mpigeni! Msibakize mshale wowote, kwa kuwa ametenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana.
Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
15 Piga kelele dhidi yake kila upande! Anajisalimisha, minara yake inaanguka, kuta zake zimebomoka. Kwa kuwa hiki ni kisasi cha Bwana, mlipizeni kisasi; mtendeeni kama alivyowatendea wengine.
Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her.
16 Katilieni mbali mpanzi kutoka Babeli, pamoja na mvunaji na mundu wake akivuna. Kwa sababu ya upanga wa mdhalimu kila mmoja na arejee kwa watu wake mwenyewe, kila mmoja na akimbilie kwenye nchi yake mwenyewe.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
17 “Israeli ni kundi lililotawanyika ambalo simba wamelifukuzia mbali. Wa kwanza kumla alikuwa mfalme wa Ashuru, wa mwisho kuponda mifupa yake alikuwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli.”
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
18 Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: “Nitamwadhibu mfalme wa Babeli na nchi yake kama nilivyomwadhibu mfalme wa Ashuru.
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.
19 Lakini nitamrudisha Israeli katika malisho yake mwenyewe naye atalisha huko Karmeli na Bashani; njaa yake itashibishwa juu ya vilima vya Efraimu na Gileadi.
I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20 Katika siku hizo, wakati huo,” asema Bwana, “uchunguzi utafanyika kwa ajili ya kosa la Israeli, lakini halitakuwepo, kwa ajili ya dhambi za Yuda, lakini haitapatikana hata moja, kwa kuwa nitawasamehe mabaki nitakaowaacha.
In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
21 “Shambulieni nchi ya Merathaimu na wale waishio huko Pekodi. Wafuatieni, waueni na kuwaangamiza kabisa,” asema Bwana. “Fanyeni kila kitu nilichowaamuru.
Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,”
22 Kelele ya vita iko ndani ya nchi, kelele ya maangamizi makuu!
“The noise of battle is in the land— the noise of great destruction.
23 Tazama jinsi nyundo ya dunia yote ilivyovunjika na kuharibika! Tazama jinsi Babeli ilivyokuwa ukiwa miongoni mwa mataifa!
How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
24 Nimetega mtego kwa ajili yako, ee Babeli, nawe ukakamatwa kabla haujafahamu; ulipatikana na ukakamatwa kwa sababu ulimpinga Bwana.
I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.
25 Bwana amefungua ghala lake la silaha na kuzitoa silaha za ghadhabu yake, kwa kuwa Bwana Mwenyezi Mwenye Nguvu Zote anayo kazi ya kufanya katika nchi ya Wakaldayo.
The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Njooni dhidi yake kutoka mbali. Zifungueni ghala zake za nafaka; mlundikeni kama lundo la nafaka. Mwangamizeni kabisa na msimwachie mabaki yoyote.
Come against her from the farthest border. Break open her granaries; pile her up like mounds of grain. Devote her to destruction; leave her no survivors.
27 Waueni mafahali wake wachanga wote; waacheni washuke machinjoni! Ole wao! Kwa kuwa siku yao imewadia, wakati wao wa kuadhibiwa.
Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come— the time of their punishment.
28 Wasikilizeni watoro na wakimbizi kutoka Babeli wakitangaza katika Sayuni jinsi Bwana, Mungu wetu alivyolipiza kisasi, kisasi kwa ajili ya Hekalu lake.
Listen to the fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, declaring in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for His temple.
29 “Waiteni wapiga mishale dhidi ya Babeli, wote wale wavutao upinde. Pigeni kambi kumzunguka kabisa, asitoroke mtu yeyote. Mlipizeni kwa matendo yake; mtendeeni kama alivyotenda. Kwa kuwa alimdharau Bwana, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
30 Kwa hiyo, vijana wake wanaume wataanguka barabarani; askari wake wote watanyamazishwa siku ile,” asema Bwana.
Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,”
31 “Tazama, niko kinyume nawe, ewe mwenye majivuno,” asema Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, “kwa kuwa siku yako imewadia, yaani, wakati wako wa kuadhibiwa.
“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.
32 Mwenye majivuno atajikwaa na kuanguka, wala hakuna yeyote atakayemuinua; nitawasha moto katika miji yake, utakaowateketeza wote wanaomzunguka.”
The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”
33 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: “Watu wa Israeli wameonewa, nao watu wa Yuda pia. Wote waliowateka wamewashikilia sana, wanakataa kuwaachia waende.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them.
34 Lakini Mkombozi wao ana nguvu; Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake. Atatetea kwa nguvu shauri lao ili alete raha katika nchi yao, lakini ataleta msukosuko kwa wale waishio Babeli.
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.
35 “Upanga dhidi ya Wakaldayo!” asema Bwana, “dhidi ya wale waishio Babeli na dhidi ya maafisa wake na watu wenye busara!
A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men.
36 Upanga dhidi ya manabii wake wa uongo! Watakuwa wapumbavu. Upanga dhidi ya mashujaa wake! Watajazwa na hofu kuu
A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.
37 Upanga dhidi ya farasi na magari yake ya vita pamoja na askari wake wote wa kigeni katika safu zake! Wao watakuwa kama wanawake. Upanga dhidi ya hazina zake! Hizo zitatekwa nyara.
A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered.
38 Ukame juu ya maji yake! Nayo yatakauka. Kwa kuwa ni nchi ya sanamu, wao wanaenda wazimu kwa ajili ya sanamu.
A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.
39 “Kwa hiyo, viumbe vya jangwani na fisi wataishi humo, nao bundi watakaa humo. Kamwe haitakaliwa tena wala watu hawataishi humo kutoka kizazi hadi kizazi.
So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.
40 Kama vile Mungu alivyoangamiza Sodoma na Gomora pamoja na miji iliyokuwa jirani nayo,” asema Bwana, “vivyo hivyo hakuna mtu yeyote atakayeishi humo. Naam, hakuna mtu yeyote atakayekaa humo.
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.
41 “Tazama! Jeshi linakuja kutoka kaskazini; taifa kubwa na wafalme wengi wanaamshwa kutoka miisho ya dunia.
Behold, an army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are stirred up from the ends of the earth.
42 Wamejifunga pinde na mikuki; ni wakatili na wasio na huruma. Wanatoa sauti kama bahari inayonguruma wanapoendesha farasi zao; wanakuja kama watu waliojipanga tayari kwa vita ili kukushambulia, ee Binti Babeli.
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon.
43 Mfalme wa Babeli amesikia habari kuwahusu, nayo mikono yake imelegea. Uchungu umemshika, maumivu kama ya mwanamke katika utungu wa kuzaa.
The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
44 Kama simba anayepanda kutoka vichaka vya Yordani kuja kwenye nchi ya malisho mengi, ndivyo nitamfukuza Babeli kutoka nchi yake ghafula. Ni nani aliye mteule, nitakayemweka kwa ajili ya jambo hili? Ni nani aliye kama mimi, na ni nani awezaye kunipinga? Tena ni mchungaji yupi awezaye kusimama kinyume nami?”
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
45 Kwa hiyo, sikia kile Bwana alichokipanga dhidi ya Babeli, kile alichokusudia dhidi ya nchi ya Wakaldayo: Aliye mchanga katika kundi ataburutwa mbali. Yeye ataharibu kabisa malisho yao kwa sababu yao.
Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
46 Kwa sauti ya kutekwa kwa Babeli, dunia itatetemeka; kilio chake kitasikika pote miongoni mwa mataifa.
At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.
