< Yeremia 51 >

1 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Tazama nitaamsha roho ya mwangamizi dhidi ya Babeli na watu wakaao Leb-Kamai.
Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
2 Nitawatuma wageni Babeli kumpepeta na kuiharibu nchi yake; watampinga kila upande katika siku ya maafa yake.
And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall fan her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
3 Usimwache mpiga upinde afunge kamba upinde wake, wala usimwache avae silaha zake. Usiwaonee huruma vijana wake; angamiza jeshi lake kabisa.
Let not the archer bend his bow, and let him not lift himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
4 Wataanguka waliouawa katika Babeli, wakiwa na majeraha ya kutisha barabarani zake.
And they shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets.
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.
For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.
6 “Kimbieni kutoka Babeli! Okoeni maisha yenu! Msiangamizwe kwa sababu ya dhambi zake. Ni wakati wa kisasi cha Bwana, atamlipa kile anachostahili.
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
7 Babeli alikuwa kikombe cha dhahabu katika mkono wa Bwana; aliufanya ulimwengu wote ulewe. Mataifa walikunywa mvinyo wake; kwa hiyo sasa wameingiwa na wazimu.
Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand; that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
8 Babeli ataanguka ghafula na kuvunjika. Mwombolezeni! Tafuteni zeri ya kutuliza maumivu yake, labda anaweza kupona.
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may 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 would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10 “‘Bwana amethibitisha haki yetu; njooni, tutangaze katika Sayuni kitu ambacho Bwana Mungu wetu amefanya.’
The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
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.
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his device is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of 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.
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 Wewe uishiye kando ya maji mengi na uliye na wingi wa hazina, mwisho wako umekuja, wakati wako wa kukatiliwa mbali.
O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy covetousness.
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 of hosts hath sworn by himself, [saying], Surely I will fill thee with men, as with the cankerworm; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.
15 “Aliiumba dunia kwa uweza wake; akaweka misingi ya ulimwengu kwa hekima yake na akazitandaza mbingu kwa ufahamu wake.
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
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.
when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
17 “Kila mtu ni mjinga na hana maarifa; kila sonara ameaibishwa na sanamu zake. Vinyago vyake ni vya udanganyifu, havina pumzi ndani yavyo.
Every man is become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18 Havifai kitu, ni vitu vya kufanyia mzaha, hukumu yavyo itakapowadia, vitaangamia.
They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
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 portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and [Israel] is the tribe of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
20 “Wewe ndiwe rungu langu la vita, silaha yangu ya vita: kwa wewe navunjavunja mataifa, kwa wewe naangamiza falme,
Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: and with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
21 kwa wewe navunjavunja farasi na mpanda farasi, kwa wewe navunjavunja gari la vita na mwendeshaji wake,
and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and him that rideth therein;
22 kwa wewe napondaponda mwanaume na mwanamke, kwa wewe napondaponda mzee na kijana, kwa wewe napondaponda kijana wa kiume na mwanamwali,
and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23 kwa wewe nampondaponda mchungaji na kundi, kwa wewe nampondaponda mkulima na maksai, kwa wewe nawapondaponda watawala na maafisa.
and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke [of oxen]; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and deputies.
24 “Mbele ya macho yako nitamlipiza Babeli na wote waishio Ukaldayo kwa ajili ya makosa yote waliyofanya katika Sayuni,” asema Bwana.
And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith 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.
Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
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.
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith 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.
Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough cankerworm.
28 Andaeni mataifa kwa ajili ya vita dhidi yake, wafalme wa Wamedi, watawala wao na maafisa wao wote, pamoja na nchi zote wanazotawala.
Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, the governors thereof, and all the deputies thereof, and all the land of his dominion.
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.
And the land trembleth and is in pain: for the purposes of the LORD against Babylon do stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
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.
The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they remain in their strong holds; their might hath failed; they are become as women: her dwelling places are set on fire; her bars are broken.
31 Tarishi mmoja humfuata mwingine, na mjumbe humfuata mjumbe, kumtangazia mfalme wa Babeli kwamba mji wake wote umetekwa,
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter:
32 Vivuko vya mito vimekamatwa, mabwawa yenye mafunjo yametiwa moto, nao askari wameingiwa na hofu kuu.”
and the passages are surprised, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.
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.”
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while, and the time of harvest shall come for her.
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.
Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his maw with my delicates; he hath cast me out.
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.
The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and, My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.
36 Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: “Tazama, nitatetea shauri lako na kulipiza kisasi kwa ajili yako; nitaikausha bahari yake na kuzikausha chemchemi zake.
Therefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
37 Babeli utakuwa lundo la magofu na makao ya mbweha, kitu cha kutisha na kudharauliwa, mahali asipoishi mtu.
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and an hissing, without inhabitant.
38 Watu wake wote wananguruma kama simba wadogo, wanakoroma kama wana simba.
They shall roar together like young lions; they shall growl as lions’ whelps.
39 Lakini wakati wakiwa wameamshwa, nitawaandalia karamu na kuwafanya walewe, ili wapige kelele kwa kicheko, kisha walale milele na wasiamke,” asema Bwana.
When they are heated, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
40 “Nitawateremsha kama wana-kondoo waendao machinjoni, kama kondoo dume na mbuzi.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
41 “Tazama jinsi Sheshaki atakamatwa, majivuno ya dunia yote yatakavyonyakuliwa. Babeli atakuwa mwenye hofu kiasi gani kati ya mataifa!
How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
42 Bahari itainuka juu ya Babeli; mawimbi yake yenye kunguruma yatamfunika.
The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
43 Miji yake itakuwa ukiwa, kame na jangwa, nchi ambayo hakuna yeyote anayeishi ndani yake, ambayo hakuna mtu anayepita humo.
Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
44 Nitamwadhibu Beli katika Babeli, na kumfanya atapike kile alichokimeza. Mataifa hayatamiminika tena kwake. Nao ukuta wa Babeli utaanguka.
And I will do judgment upon Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
45 “Tokeni ndani yake, enyi watu wangu! Okoeni maisha yenu! Ikimbieni hasira kali ya Bwana.
My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and save yourselves every man from the fierce anger of the LORD.
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.
And let not your heart faint, neither fear ye for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; for a rumour shall come one year, and after that in another year [shall come] a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
47 Kwa kuwa hakika wakati utawadia nitakapoziadhibu sanamu za Babeli; nchi yake yote itatiwa aibu, na watu wake wote waliouawa wataangukia ndani yake.
Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon, and her whole land shall be ashamed; and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
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 the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for joy over Babylon; for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.
49 “Babeli ni lazima aanguke kwa sababu ya kuwaua Waisraeli, kama vile waliouawa duniani kote walivyoanguka kwa sababu ya Babeli.
As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the land.
50 Wewe uliyepona upanga, ondoka wala usikawie! Mkumbuke Bwana ukiwa katika nchi ya mbali, na utafakari juu ya Yerusalemu.”
Ye that have escaped the sword, go ye, stand not still; remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
51 “Tumetahayari, kwa maana tumetukanwa na aibu imefunika nyuso zetu, kwa sababu wageni wameingia mahali patakatifu pa nyumba ya Bwana.”
We are ashamed, because we have heard reproach; confusion hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.
52 “Lakini siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “nitakapoadhibu sanamu zake, na katika nchi yake yote waliojeruhiwa watalia kwa maumivu makali.
Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images; and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
53 Hata kama Babeli ikifika angani na kuziimarisha ngome zake ndefu, nitatuma waharabu dhidi yake,” asema Bwana.
Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
54 “Sauti ya kilio inasikika kutoka Babeli, sauti ya uharibifu mkuu kutoka nchi ya Wakaldayo.
The sound of a cry from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 Bwana ataiangamiza Babeli, atanyamazisha makelele ya kishindo chake. Mawimbi ya adui yatanguruma kama maji makuu, ngurumo ya sauti zao itavuma.
For the LORD spoileth Babylon, and destroyeth out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like many waters, the noise of their voice is uttered:
56 Mharabu atakuja dhidi ya Babeli, mashujaa wake watakamatwa, nazo pinde zao zitavunjwa. Kwa kuwa Bwana ni Mungu wa kisasi, yeye atalipiza kikamilifu.
for the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces: for the LORD is a God of recompences, he shall surely requite.
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.
And I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors and her deputies, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
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.”
Thus saith the LORD of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the peoples shall labour for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they shall be weary.
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.
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain.
60 Yeremia alikuwa ameandika ndani ya kitabu kuhusu maafa yote yatakayoipata Babeli, yaani yote yaliyokuwa yameandikwa kuhusu Babeli.
And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.
61 Yeremia akamwambia Seraya, “Utakapofika Babeli, hakikisha kwamba umesoma maneno haya yote kwa sauti kubwa.
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words,
62 Kisha sema, ‘Ee Bwana, umesema utaangamiza mahali hapa ili mtu wala mnyama asiishi ndani yake, napo patakuwa ukiwa milele.’
and say, O LORD, thou hast spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that none shall dwell therein, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
63 Utakapomaliza kusoma hiki kitabu, kifungie jiwe kisha ukitupe ndani ya Mto Frati.
And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of 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.
and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again because of the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

< Yeremia 51 >