Yeremia 51
1 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Tazama nitaamsha roho ya mwangamizi dhidi ya Babeli na watu wakaao Leb-Kamai.
This is what the Lord says: Look! I'm going to stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the people of Babylonia.
2 Nitawatuma wageni Babeli kumpepeta na kuiharibu nchi yake; watampinga kila upande katika siku ya maafa yake.
I will send foreign soldiers to attack Babylon to winnow her and turn her country into a wasteland—they will attack her from all directions when her time of trouble comes.
3 Usimwache mpiga upinde afunge kamba upinde wake, wala usimwache avae silaha zake. Usiwaonee huruma vijana wake; angamiza jeshi lake kabisa.
The archer doesn't need to use his bow; the infantryman doesn't need to put on his armor. Don't spare her young soldiers; set apart her whole army for destruction!
4 Wataanguka waliouawa katika Babeli, wakiwa na majeraha ya kutisha barabarani zake.
They will fall down wounded in her streets, killed in the country of Babylonia.
5 Kwa maana Israeli na Yuda hawajaachwa na Mungu wao, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, ingawa nchi yao imejaa uovu mbele zake yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Israel and Judah have not been deserted by their God, the Lord Almighty, even though they sinned against the Holy One of Israel everywhere in their country.
6 “Kimbieni kutoka Babeli! Okoeni maisha yenu! Msiangamizwe kwa sababu ya dhambi zake. Ni wakati wa kisasi cha Bwana, atamlipa kile anachostahili.
Escape from Babylon! Run for your lives! Don't get caught up in her punishment and die, for this is the time when the Lord pays her back for her sins.
7 Babeli alikuwa kikombe cha dhahabu katika mkono wa Bwana; aliufanya ulimwengu wote ulewe. Mataifa walikunywa mvinyo wake; kwa hiyo sasa wameingiwa na wazimu.
Once Babylon was a golden cup the Lord held in his hand. She made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine which is why they went mad.
8 Babeli ataanguka ghafula na kuvunjika. Mwombolezeni! Tafuteni zeri ya kutuliza maumivu yake, labda anaweza kupona.
Now, all of a sudden, Babylon has fallen. She has been smashed to pieces. Weep for her; get her some treatment for her pain. Maybe she can be healed.
9 “‘Tungemponya Babeli, lakini hawezi kuponyeka; tumwacheni, na kila mmoja wetu aende nchi yake mwenyewe, kwa kuwa hukumu yake inafika angani, inapanda juu hadi mawinguni.’
“We tried to heal her, but she couldn't be helped. So give up on her! All of us should go home to where we came from. The news of her punishment has reached everywhere, all the way to heaven.
10 “‘Bwana amethibitisha haki yetu; njooni, tutangaze katika Sayuni kitu ambacho Bwana Mungu wetu amefanya.’
The Lord has encouraged and supported us. Come on, let's tell people here in Jerusalem what the Lord has done for us!”
11 “Noeni mishale, chukueni ngao! Bwana amewaamsha wafalme wa Wamedi, kwa sababu nia yake ni kuangamiza Babeli. Bwana atalipiza kisasi, kisasi kwa ajili ya Hekalu lake.
Sharpen the arrows! Pick up the shields! The Lord has encouraged the kings of the Medes, because his plan is directed at the destruction of Babylon. The Lord is paying them back for what happened to his Temple.
12 Twekeni bendera juu ya kuta za Babeli! Imarisheni ulinzi, wekeni walinzi, andaeni waviziao! Bwana atatimiza kusudi lake, amri yake juu ya watu wa Babeli.
Raise the signal flag to attack the walls of Babylon; strengthen the guard; have the watchmen take their places; get the ambush ready. The Lord planned and carried out his threats against the people of Babylon.
13 Wewe uishiye kando ya maji mengi na uliye na wingi wa hazina, mwisho wako umekuja, wakati wako wa kukatiliwa mbali.
You people who live beside by many waters, and have so much wealth, this is the time of your end—your life will be cut short.
14 Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ameapa kwa nafsi yake mwenyewe: ‘Hakika nitakujaza na watu, kama kundi la nzige, nao watapiga kelele za ushindi juu yako.’
The Lord Almighty vowed by his own life, saying, I'm going to make sure to fill you with so many enemy soldiers they'll be like locusts. They will shout as they celebrate their victory over you.
15 “Aliiumba dunia kwa uweza wake; akaweka misingi ya ulimwengu kwa hekima yake na akazitandaza mbingu kwa ufahamu wake.
It was God who made the earth by his power. He created the world by his wisdom and by his understanding he put the heavens in place.
16 Atoapo sauti yake, maji yaliyo katika mbingu hunguruma, huyafanya mawingu yainuke kutoka miisho ya dunia. Hupeleka umeme wa radi pamoja na mvua, naye huuleta upepo kutoka ghala zake.
The waters of the heavens rain down with a roar at his command. He makes the clouds to rise all over the earth. He makes lightning to accompany rain, and sends the wind from his storehouses.
17 “Kila mtu ni mjinga na hana maarifa; kila sonara ameaibishwa na sanamu zake. Vinyago vyake ni vya udanganyifu, havina pumzi ndani yavyo.
Everyone is stupid; they don't know anything. Every metalworker is embarrassed by the idols they make. For their images made of molten metal are fraudulent—they're not alive!
18 Havifai kitu, ni vitu vya kufanyia mzaha, hukumu yavyo itakapowadia, vitaangamia.
They are useless, an object to be laughed at. They will be destroyed at the time of their punishment.
19 Yeye Aliye Fungu la Yakobo sivyo alivyo, kwani ndiye Muumba wa vitu vyote, pamoja na kabila la urithi wake: Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake.
The God of Jacob is not like these idols, for he is the creator of everything, including his own people that are special to him. The Lord Almighty is his name.
20 “Wewe ndiwe rungu langu la vita, silaha yangu ya vita: kwa wewe navunjavunja mataifa, kwa wewe naangamiza falme,
You are my war club, the weapon I use in battle. I use you to destroy nations; I use you to destroy kingdoms.
21 kwa wewe navunjavunja farasi na mpanda farasi, kwa wewe navunjavunja gari la vita na mwendeshaji wake,
I use you to destroy horses and their riders; I use you to destroy chariots and their drivers.
22 kwa wewe napondaponda mwanaume na mwanamke, kwa wewe napondaponda mzee na kijana, kwa wewe napondaponda kijana wa kiume na mwanamwali,
I use you to destroy men and women; I use you to destroy old men and youths; I use you to destroy young men and girls.
23 kwa wewe nampondaponda mchungaji na kundi, kwa wewe nampondaponda mkulima na maksai, kwa wewe nawapondaponda watawala na maafisa.
I use you to destroy shepherds and their flocks; I use you to destroy farmers and their cattle; I use you to destroy rulers and state officials.
24 “Mbele ya macho yako nitamlipiza Babeli na wote waishio Ukaldayo kwa ajili ya makosa yote waliyofanya katika Sayuni,” asema Bwana.
Right in front of you I'm going to pay back Babylon and everyone who live in Babylonia for all the evil they did to Jerusalem, declares the Lord.
25 “Mimi niko kinyume nawe, ee mlima unaoharibu, wewe uangamizaye dunia yote,” asema Bwana. “Nitanyoosha mkono wangu dhidi yako, nikuvingirishe kutoka kwenye kilele cha mwamba, na kukufanya mlima ulioteketezwa kwa moto.
Watch out, because I am against you, you destructive monster who devastates the whole world, declares the Lord. I will reach out to attack you; I will roll you down the cliffs; I will turn you into a mountain of ash.
26 Hakuna jiwe litakalochukuliwa kutoka kwako kwa ajili ya kufanywa jiwe la pembeni, wala jiwe lolote kwa ajili ya msingi, kwa maana utakuwa ukiwa milele,” asema Bwana.
Nobody will be even able to find themselves a cornerstone or a foundation stone among your ruins, because you will be so utterly destroyed, declares the Lord.
27 “Twekeni bendera katika nchi! Pigeni tarumbeta katikati ya mataifa! Andaeni mataifa kwa ajili ya vita dhidi yake, iteni falme hizi dhidi yake: Ararati, Mini na Ashkenazi. Wekeni jemadari dhidi yake, pelekeni farasi wengi kama kundi la nzige.
Raise a signal flag in the country! Blow the trumpet call to war among the nations! Get the nations ready to attack her; Summon the kingdoms to march against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Choose a commander to lead the armies to attack her; send into battle cavalry like a swarm of locusts.
28 Andaeni mataifa kwa ajili ya vita dhidi yake, wafalme wa Wamedi, watawala wao na maafisa wao wote, pamoja na nchi zote wanazotawala.
Have the armies of the nations prepare for battle against her. This applies to the kings of the Medes, their leaders and all their officers, and every country they rule.
29 Nchi inatetemeka na kugaagaa, kwa kuwa makusudi ya Bwana dhidi ya Babeli yanasimama: yaani, kuangamiza nchi ya Babeli ili pasiwe na yeyote atakayeishi humo.
The earth quakes and trembles because the Lord is determined to carry out what he threatened against Babylon—to turn Babylonia into a wasteland where no one lives.
30 Mashujaa wa Babeli wameacha kupigana, wamebaki katika ngome zao. Nguvu zao zimekwisha, wamekuwa kama wanawake. Makazi yake yameteketezwa kwa moto, makomeo ya malango yake yamevunjika.
Babylon's defenders have given up fighting—they're just sitting in their fortresses. They're worn out; they've become like frightened women. Babylon's houses are burning; the bars securing her gates have been smashed.
31 Tarishi mmoja humfuata mwingine, na mjumbe humfuata mjumbe, kumtangazia mfalme wa Babeli kwamba mji wake wote umetekwa,
A runner hands his message over to another to carry; one messenger follows another messenger, all of them alerting the king of Babylon to the news that his city has been completely conquered,
32 Vivuko vya mito vimekamatwa, mabwawa yenye mafunjo yametiwa moto, nao askari wameingiwa na hofu kuu.”
the river crossings have been captured, the marshlands set on fire and his soldiers are panicking.
33 Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: “Binti Babeli ni kama sakafu ya kupuria wakati inapokanyagwa; wakati wa kumvuna utakuja upesi.”
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: The people of Babylon are like a threshing floor when the grain is trampled out. Her time of harvest will come very soon.
34 “Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli ametula, ametufanya tuchangayikiwe, ametufanya tuwe gudulia tupu. Kama nyoka ametumeza na kujaza tumbo lake kwa vyakula vyetu vizuri, kisha akatutapika.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon chewed me up and sucked me dry, making me as empty as a jar with nothing in it. He swallowed me down as if he were some monster, filling himself with the tastiest parts of me and throwing the rest away.
35 Jeuri iliyofanyiwa miili yetu na iwe juu ya Babeli,” ndivyo wasemavyo wakaao Sayuni. “Damu yetu na iwe juu ya wale waishio Babeli,” asema Yerusalemu.
“Babylon must bear the responsibility for the violent attacks on us,” say the inhabitants of Zion. “The people of Babylonia must bear the responsibility for the blood shed in my city,” says Jerusalem.
36 Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: “Tazama, nitatetea shauri lako na kulipiza kisasi kwa ajili yako; nitaikausha bahari yake na kuzikausha chemchemi zake.
This is what the Lord says: Watch as I present your case for you and make your enemies pay for what they did to you. I'm going to dry up her river and her springs.
37 Babeli utakuwa lundo la magofu na makao ya mbweha, kitu cha kutisha na kudharauliwa, mahali asipoishi mtu.
Babylon will be turned into a pile of rubble, a home for jackals, a place that horrifies people, a place they jeer at, a place where no one lives.
38 Watu wake wote wananguruma kama simba wadogo, wanakoroma kama wana simba.
The Babylonians will roar together like powerful lions and growl like lion cubs.
39 Lakini wakati wakiwa wameamshwa, nitawaandalia karamu na kuwafanya walewe, ili wapige kelele kwa kicheko, kisha walale milele na wasiamke,” asema Bwana.
But while their passions are aroused, I will serve them a banquet and get them drunk. They'll celebrate so much that they'll pass out and won't ever wake up, declares the Lord.
40 “Nitawateremsha kama wana-kondoo waendao machinjoni, kama kondoo dume na mbuzi.
I will take them down like lambs to be slaughtered, like rams and goats.
41 “Tazama jinsi Sheshaki atakamatwa, majivuno ya dunia yote yatakavyonyakuliwa. Babeli atakuwa mwenye hofu kiasi gani kati ya mataifa!
How could it be? Babylon has fallen! The most famous city in the world has been conquered! What a horrible sight Babylon has become to everyone watching!
42 Bahari itainuka juu ya Babeli; mawimbi yake yenye kunguruma yatamfunika.
It's as if the sea has flooded over Babylon, covering her in crashing waves.
43 Miji yake itakuwa ukiwa, kame na jangwa, nchi ambayo hakuna yeyote anayeishi ndani yake, ambayo hakuna mtu anayepita humo.
The towns of Babylonia are in ruins, turned into a dry desert wasteland where no one lives—no one even passes by.
44 Nitamwadhibu Beli katika Babeli, na kumfanya atapike kile alichokimeza. Mataifa hayatamiminika tena kwake. Nao ukuta wa Babeli utaanguka.
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will force him to spit out what he swallowed. People of other nations won't run to worship him anymore. Even Babylon's wall has fallen.
45 “Tokeni ndani yake, enyi watu wangu! Okoeni maisha yenu! Ikimbieni hasira kali ya Bwana.
My people, come out of her! Each one of you, save yourselves from the Lord's furious anger.
46 Msikate tamaa wala msiogope tetesi zitakaposikika katika nchi; tetesi moja inasikika mwaka huu, nyingine mwaka unaofuata; tetesi juu ya jeuri katika nchi, na ya mtawala dhidi ya mtawala.
Don't lose courage, and don't be afraid when you hear different rumors going around the country. There'll be one rumor one year, and another one the next, talking about violent revolution, of one ruler fighting against another.
47 Kwa kuwa hakika wakati utawadia nitakapoziadhibu sanamu za Babeli; nchi yake yote itatiwa aibu, na watu wake wote waliouawa wataangukia ndani yake.
Look, the time is coming when I will punish Babylon's idols. The whole country will be humiliated; it will be full of the dead bodies of those who have been killed.
48 Ndipo mbingu na dunia na vyote vilivyomo ndani yake vitapiga kelele za shangwe juu ya Babeli, kwa kuwa kutoka kaskazini waharabu watamshambulia,” asema Bwana.
Then everyone in heaven and on earth will celebrate with shouts of joy at what's happened to Babylon, because the destroyers from the north will come and attack her, declares the Lord.
49 “Babeli ni lazima aanguke kwa sababu ya kuwaua Waisraeli, kama vile waliouawa duniani kote walivyoanguka kwa sababu ya Babeli.
Babylon has to fall because of the Israelites and people of other nations she killed.
50 Wewe uliyepona upanga, ondoka wala usikawie! Mkumbuke Bwana ukiwa katika nchi ya mbali, na utafakari juu ya Yerusalemu.”
Those of you who have managed to escape being killed, leave now! Don't delay! Remember the Lord in this far away place; think about Jerusalem.
51 “Tumetahayari, kwa maana tumetukanwa na aibu imefunika nyuso zetu, kwa sababu wageni wameingia mahali patakatifu pa nyumba ya Bwana.”
“We are embarrassed because we've been mocked, and we held our heads in shame because foreigners went into the holy places of the Lord's Temple,”
52 “Lakini siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “nitakapoadhibu sanamu zake, na katika nchi yake yote waliojeruhiwa watalia kwa maumivu makali.
So keep watching, declares the Lord, because the time is coming when I will punish her for worshiping idols, and the sound of wounded people moaning will be heard throughout the country.
53 Hata kama Babeli ikifika angani na kuziimarisha ngome zake ndefu, nitatuma waharabu dhidi yake,” asema Bwana.
Even if Babylon could climb up into the sky to strengthen her high fortresses, those I send to attack her will destroy her, declares the Lord.
54 “Sauti ya kilio inasikika kutoka Babeli, sauti ya uharibifu mkuu kutoka nchi ya Wakaldayo.
A cry comes from Babylon; the noise of terrible destruction comes from the country of Babylonia.
55 Bwana ataiangamiza Babeli, atanyamazisha makelele ya kishindo chake. Mawimbi ya adui yatanguruma kama maji makuu, ngurumo ya sauti zao itavuma.
For the Lord is going to destroy Babylon; he will put an end to her boastful talk. The waves of attacking army will roar like the crashing sea; the noise of their shouts will echo all around.
56 Mharabu atakuja dhidi ya Babeli, mashujaa wake watakamatwa, nazo pinde zao zitavunjwa. Kwa kuwa Bwana ni Mungu wa kisasi, yeye atalipiza kikamilifu.
A destroyer is coming to attack Babylon. Her soldiers will be taken prisoner, and their bows will be smashed, for the Lord is a God who punishes fairly; he will definitely pay them back.
57 Nitawafanya maafisa wake na wenye busara walewe, watawala wao, maafisa, pamoja na wapiganaji wao; watalala milele na hawataamka,” asema Mfalme, ambaye jina lake ni Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
I will make her leaders and wise men drunk, along with her commanders, officers, and soldiers. Then they will pass out, and won't ever wake up, declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty.
58 Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: “Ukuta mnene wa Babeli utasawazishwa, na malango yaliyoinuka yatateketezwa kwa moto; mataifa yanajichosha bure, taabu ya mataifa ni nishati tu ya miali ya moto.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Babylon's massive walls will be knocked down to the ground and her high gates burned. All that the people worked for will be for nothing; other nations who came to help will wear themselves out, only to see what they've done go up in flames.
59 Huu ndio ujumbe Yeremia aliompa afisa Seraya mwana wa Neria mwana wa Maaseya, alipokwenda Babeli pamoja na Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda, katika mwaka wa nne wa utawala wake.
This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to Seraiah son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he accompanied King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign. Seraiah was the king's personal assistant.
60 Yeremia alikuwa ameandika ndani ya kitabu kuhusu maafa yote yatakayoipata Babeli, yaani yote yaliyokuwa yameandikwa kuhusu Babeli.
Jeremiah had written on a scroll a description of all the disasters that would come to Babylon—all these words written here about Babylon.
61 Yeremia akamwambia Seraya, “Utakapofika Babeli, hakikisha kwamba umesoma maneno haya yote kwa sauti kubwa.
Jeremiah told Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read out loud everything written here,
62 Kisha sema, ‘Ee Bwana, umesema utaangamiza mahali hapa ili mtu wala mnyama asiishi ndani yake, napo patakuwa ukiwa milele.’
and announce, ‘Lord, you have promised to destroy this place so that none will be left—no people or animals. In fact it will be deserted forever.’
63 Utakapomaliza kusoma hiki kitabu, kifungie jiwe kisha ukitupe ndani ya Mto Frati.
After you finish reading this scroll out loud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates.
64 Kisha sema, ‘Hivi ndivyo Babeli utakavyozama na usiinuke tena, kwa sababu ya maafa nitakayoleta juu yake. Nao watu wake wataanguka.’” Maneno ya Yeremia yanaishia hapa.
Then say, ‘This is how Babylon will sink and won't ever rise again, because of the disaster I'm bringing down on her. Her people will grow tired.’” This is the end of Jeremiah's messages.
