< Yeremia 50 >

1 Hili ndilo neno alilosema Bwana kupitia nabii Yeremia kuhusu Babeli na nchi ya Wakaldayo:
The word that the Lord hath spoken against Babylon, and against the land of the Chaldeans in the hand of Jeremias the prophet.
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.’
Declare ye among the nations, and publish it, lift up a standard: proclaim, and conceal it not: say: Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is overthrown, their graven things are confounded, their idols are overthrown.
3 Taifa kutoka kaskazini litamshambulia, na kuifanya nchi yake ukiwa. Hakuna hata mmoja atakayeishi ndani yake, watu na wanyama wataikimbia.
For a nation is come up against her out of the north, which shall make her land desolate: and there shall be none to dwell therein, from man even to beast: yea they are removed, and gone away.
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, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Juda together: going and weeping they shall make haste, and shall 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 shall ask the way to Sion, their faces are hitherward. They shall come, and shall be joined to the Lord by an everlasting covenant, which shall 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 have been a lost flock, their shepherds have caused them to go astray, and have made them wander in the mountains: they have gone 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 that found them, have devoured them: and their enemies said: We have not sinned in so doing: because they have sinned against the Lord the beauty of justice, and against the Lord the hope of their fathers.
8 “Kimbieni kutoka Babeli; ondokeni katika nchi ya Wakaldayo tena kuweni kama mbuzi wale waongozao kundi.
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans: and be ye as kids at the head of 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 raise up, and will bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north: and they shall be prepared against her, and from thence she shall be taken: their arrows, like those of a mighty man, a destroyer, shall not return in vain.
10 Kwa hiyo Ukaldayo utatekwa nyara; wote wamtekao nyara watapata za kutosha,” asema Bwana.
And Chaldea shall be made a prey: all that waste her shall be filled, saith the Lord.
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, and speak great things, pillaging my inheritance: because you are spread abroad as calves upon the grass, and have bellowed as bulls.
12 mama yako ataaibika mno, yeye aliyekuzaa atatahayari. Atakuwa mdogo kuliko mataifa mengine yote, atakuwa nyika, nchi kame na jangwa.
Your mother is confounded exceedingly, and she that bore you is made even with the dust: behold she shall be the last among the nations, a wilderness unpassable, and dry.
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 it shall not be inhabited, but shall be wholly desolate: every one that shall pass by Babylon, shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
14 “Shikeni nafasi zenu kuzunguka Babeli, enyi nyote mvutao upinde. Mpigeni! Msibakize mshale wowote, kwa kuwa ametenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana.
Prepare yourselves against Babylon round about, all you that bend the bow: fight against her, spare not arrows: because she hath 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.
Shout against her, she hath every where given her hand, her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down, for it is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance upon her: as she hath done, so do 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.
Destroy the sower out of Babylon, and him that holdeth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the sword of the dove every man shall return to his people, and every one shall 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, the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria devoured him: and last this Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
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 thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, as I have visited 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.
And I will bring Israel again to his habitation: and he shall feed on Carmel, and Bason, and his soul shall be satisfied in mount Ephraim, and Galaad.
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, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sin of Juda, and there shall none be found: for I will be merciful to them, whom I shall leave.
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 the rulers, and punish the inhabitants thereof, waste, and destroy all behind them, saith the Lord: and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
22 Kelele ya vita iko ndani ya nchi, kelele ya maangamizi makuu!
A noise of war in the land, and a great destruction.
23 Tazama jinsi nyundo ya dunia yote ilivyovunjika na kuharibika! Tazama jinsi Babeli ilivyokuwa ukiwa miongoni mwa mataifa!
How is the hammer of the whole earth broken, and destroyed! how is Babylon turned into a desert among the nations!
24 Nimetega mtego kwa ajili yako, ee Babeli, nawe ukakamatwa kabla haujafahamu; ulipatikana na ukakamatwa kwa sababu ulimpinga Bwana.
I have caused thee to fall into a snare, and thou art taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware of it: thou art found and caught, because thou hast provoked 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 hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his wrath: for the Lord the God of hosts hath a work to be done 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 ye against her from the uttermost borders: open that they may go forth that shall tread her down: take the stones out of the way, and make heaps, and destroy her: and let nothing of her be left.
27 Waueni mafahali wake wachanga wote; waacheni washuke machinjoni! Ole wao! Kwa kuwa siku yao imewadia, wakati wao wa kuadhibiwa.
Destroy all her valiant men, let them go down to the slaughter: woe to them, for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
28 Wasikilizeni watoro na wakimbizi kutoka Babeli wakitangaza katika Sayuni jinsi Bwana, Mungu wetu alivyolipiza kisasi, kisasi kwa ajili ya Hekalu lake.
The voice of them that flee, and of them that have escaped out of the land of Babylon: to declare in Sion the revenge of the Lord our God, the revenge of 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.
Declare to many against Babylon, to all that bend the bow: stand together against her round about, and let nose escape; pay her according to her work: according to all that she hath done, do ye to her: for she hath lifted up herself against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Kwa hiyo, vijana wake wanaume wataanguka barabarani; askari wake wote watanyamazishwa siku ile,” asema Bwana.
Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets: and all her men of war shall hold their peace in that day, saith the Lord.
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 come against thee, O proud one, saith the Lord the God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time of thy visitation.
32 Mwenye majivuno atajikwaa na kuanguka, wala hakuna yeyote atakayemuinua; nitawasha moto katika miji yake, utakaowateketeza wote wanaomzunguka.”
And the proud one shall fall, he shall fall down, and there shall be none to lift him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about 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.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The children of Israel, and the children of Juda are oppressed together: all that have taken them captives, hold them fast, they will not let them go.
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 defend their cause in judgment, to terrify the land, and to disquiet the inhabitants of 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 upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
36 Upanga dhidi ya manabii wake wa uongo! Watakuwa wapumbavu. Upanga dhidi ya mashujaa wake! Watajazwa na hofu kuu
A sword upon her diviners, and they shall be foolish: a sword upon her valiant ones, and they shall be dismayed.
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 upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the people that are in the midst of her: and they shall become as women: a sword upon her treasures, and they shall be made a spoil.
38 Ukame juu ya maji yake! Nayo yatakauka. Kwa kuwa ni nchi ya sanamu, wao wanaenda wazimu kwa ajili ya sanamu.
A drought upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: because it is a land of idols, and they glory in monstrous things.
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.
Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns: and ostriches shall dwell therein, and it shall be no more inhabited for ever, neither shall it be built up 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 the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, and their neighbour cities, saith the Lord: no man shall dwell there, neither shall the son of man inhabit it.
41 “Tazama! Jeshi linakuja kutoka kaskazini; taifa kubwa na wafalme wengi wanaamshwa kutoka miisho ya dunia.
Behold a people cometh from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall rise 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 shall take the bow and the shield: they are cruel and unmerciful: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses: like a man prepared for battle against thee, 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 hath heard the report of them, and his hands are grown feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, pangs as a, woman in labour.
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 he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the Jordan to the strong and beautiful: for I will make him run suddenly upon her: and who shall be the chosen one whom I may appoint over her? for who is like to me? and who shall bear up against me? and who is that shepherd that can withstand my countenance?
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 ye the counsel of the Lord, which he hath taken against Babylon: and his thoughts which he hath thought against the land of the Chaldeans: surely the little ones of the flocks shall pull them down, of a truth their habitation shall be destroyed with them.
46 Kwa sauti ya kutekwa kwa Babeli, dunia itatetemeka; kilio chake kitasikika pote miongoni mwa mataifa.
At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard amongst the nations.

< Yeremia 50 >