Yeremia 50
1 Hili ndilo neno alilosema Bwana kupitia nabii Yeremia kuhusu Babeli na nchi ya Wakaldayo:
The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah 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 amongst the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. Her idols are dismayed.’
3 Taifa kutoka kaskazini litamshambulia, na kuifanya nchi yake ukiwa. Hakuna hata mmoja atakayeishi ndani yake, watu na wanyama wataikimbia.
For a nation comes up out of the north against her, which will make her land desolate, and no one will dwell in it. They have fled. They are gone, both man and animal.
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 in that time,” says the LORD, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping, 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 enquire concerning Zion with their faces turned towards it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not 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 lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on 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 who found them have devoured them. Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of righteousness, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 “Kimbieni kutoka Babeli; ondokeni katika nchi ya Wakaldayo tena kuweni kama mbuzi wale waongozao kundi.
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
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 will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they will set themselves in array against her. She will be taken from there. Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man. None of them will return in vain.
10 Kwa hiyo Ukaldayo utatekwa nyara; wote wamtekao nyara watapata za kutosha,” asema Bwana.
Chaldea will be a prey. All who prey on her will be satisfied,” says 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 are glad, because you rejoice, O you who plunder my heritage, because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain, and neigh as strong horses,
12 mama yako ataaibika mno, yeye aliyekuzaa atatahayari. Atakuwa mdogo kuliko mataifa mengine yote, atakuwa nyika, nchi kame na jangwa.
your mother will be utterly disappointed. She who bore you will be confounded. 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 LORD’s wrath she won’t be inhabited, but she will be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon will 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.
Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend 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.
Shout against her all around. She has submitted herself. Her bulwarks have fallen. Her walls have been thrown down, for it is the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, 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.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their 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 hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has 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 the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have 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 bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in 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 in that time,” says the LORD, “the iniquity of Israel will be sought for, and there will be none, also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
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, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says the LORD, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22 Kelele ya vita iko ndani ya nchi, kelele ya maangamizi makuu!
A sound of battle is in the land, and 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 is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation amongst the nations!
24 Nimetega mtego kwa ajili yako, ee Babeli, nawe ukakamatwa kabla haujafahamu; ulipatikana na ukakamatwa kwa sababu ulimpinga Bwana.
I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against 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 armoury, and has brought out the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, GOD of Armies, has a work to do 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. Open her storehouses. Cast her up as heaps. Destroy her utterly. 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.
Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has 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.
Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance 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.
“Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud 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 her young men will fall in her streets. All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day,” says 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 am against you, you proud one,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies; “for your day has come, the time that I will visit you.
32 Mwenye majivuno atajikwaa na kuanguka, wala hakuna yeyote atakayemuinua; nitawasha moto katika miji yake, utakaowateketeza wote wanaomzunguka.”
The proud one will stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up. I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all who are 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.
The LORD of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to 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 Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and 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 on the Chaldeans,” says the LORD, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men.
36 Upanga dhidi ya manabii wake wa uongo! Watakuwa wapumbavu. Upanga dhidi ya mashujaa wake! Watajazwa na hofu kuu
A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will 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 is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 Ukame juu ya maji yake! Nayo yatakauka. Kwa kuwa ni nchi ya sanamu, wao wanaenda wazimu kwa ajili ya sanamu.
A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are 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.
Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be 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 when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbour cities,” says the LORD, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
41 “Tazama! Jeshi linakuja kutoka kaskazini; taifa kubwa na wafalme wengi wanaamshwa kutoka miisho ya dunia.
“Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts 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 take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, 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 news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of 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, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can stand before 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 counsel of the LORD that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46 Kwa sauti ya kutekwa kwa Babeli, dunia itatetemeka; kilio chake kitasikika pote miongoni mwa mataifa.
The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard amongst the nations.
