Yeremia 8
1 “‘Wakati huo, asema Bwana, mifupa ya wafalme na maafisa wa Yuda, mifupa ya makuhani na manabii, na mifupa ya watu wa Yerusalemu itaondolewa kutoka makaburi yao.
“At that time,” says the LORD, “they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of his princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves.
2 Itawekwa wazi kwa jua, na mwezi, na nyota zote za mbingu, ambazo walizipenda na kuzitumikia, na ambazo wamezifuata kutafuta ushauri na kuziabudu. Hawatakusanywa pamoja au kuzikwa, lakini watakuwa kama mavi yaliyotapakaa juu ya ardhi.
They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which they have walked, which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or be buried. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth.
3 Popote nitakapowafukuzia, mabaki wote wa kizazi hiki kiovu watatamani kufa kuliko kuishi, asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.’
Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says the LORD of Armies.
4 “Waambie, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: “‘Je, watu wanapoanguka hawainuki? Je, mtu anapopotea harudi?
“Moreover you shall tell them, ‘The LORD says: “‘Do men fall, and not rise up again? Does one turn away, and not return?
5 Kwa nini basi watu hawa walipotea? Kwa nini Yerusalemu inapotea kila mara? Wanangʼangʼania udanganyifu na wanakataa kurudi.
Why then have the people of Jerusalem fallen back by a perpetual backsliding? They cling to deceit. They refuse to return.
6 Nimewasikiliza kwa makini, lakini hawataki kusema lililo sawa. Hakuna anayetubia makosa yake akisema, “Nimefanya nini?” Kila mmoja hufuata njia yake mwenyewe kama farasi anayekwenda vitani.
I listened and heard, but they did not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle.
7 Hata korongo aliyeko angani anayajua majira yake yaliyoamriwa, nao njiwa, mbayuwayu na koikoi hufuata majira yao ya kurudi. Lakini watu wangu hawajui Bwana anachotaka kwao.
Yes, the stork in the sky knows her appointed times. The turtledove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the LORD’s law.
8 “‘Mwawezaje kusema, “Sisi tuna busara kwa sababu tunayo sheria ya Bwana,” wakati ambapo kwa hakika kalamu ya uongo ya waandishi imeandika kwa udanganyifu?
“‘How do you say, “We are wise, and the LORD’s law is with us”? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made that a lie.
9 Wenye hekima wataaibika, watafadhaika na kunaswa. Kwa kuwa wamelikataa neno la Bwana, hiyo hekima waliyo nayo ni ya namna gani?
The wise men are disappointed. They are dismayed and trapped. Behold, they have rejected the LORD’s word. What kind of wisdom is in them?
10 Kwa hiyo nitawapa watu wengine wake zao, na mashamba yao kwa wamiliki wengine. Kuanzia aliye mdogo kabisa hadi aliye mkubwa kabisa, wote wana tamaa ya kupata zaidi; manabii na makuhani wanafanana, wote wanafanya udanganyifu.
Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to those who will possess them. For everyone from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness; from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.
11 Wanafunga majeraha ya watu wangu bila uangalifu. Wanasema, “Amani, amani,” wakati hakuna amani.
They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace.
12 Je, wanaona aibu kwa ajili ya tabia yao inayochukiza mno? Hapana, hawana aibu hata kidogo, hawajui hata kuona haya. Kwa hiyo wataanguka miongoni mwa hao walioanguka, watashushwa chini watakapoadhibiwa, asema Bwana.
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed. They could not blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. In the time of their visitation they will be cast down, says the LORD.
13 “‘Nitayaondoa mavuno yao, asema Bwana. Hapatakuwepo zabibu kwenye mzabibu. Hapatakuwepo na tini kwenye mtini, majani yake yatanyauka. Kile nilichowapa watanyangʼanywa.’”
“‘I will utterly consume them, says the LORD. No grapes will be on the vine, no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will fade. The things that I have given them will pass away from them.’”
14 “Kwa nini tunaketi hapa? Kusanyikeni pamoja! Tukimbilie kwenye miji yenye maboma, tukaangamie huko! Kwa kuwa Bwana, Mungu wetu ametuhukumu kuangamia, na kutupa maji yenye sumu tunywe, kwa sababu tumemtenda dhambi.
“Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves! Let’s enter into the fortified cities, and let’s be silent there; for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
15 Tulitegemea amani, lakini hakuna jema lililokuja, tulitegemea wakati wa kupona, lakini kulikuwa hofu tu.
We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay!
16 Mkoromo wa farasi za adui umesikika kuanzia Dani, kwa mlio wa madume yao ya farasi, nchi yote inatetemeka. Wamekuja kuangamiza nchi na vyote vilivyomo, mji na wote waishio ndani yake.”
The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan. The whole land trembles at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they have come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell therein.”
17 “Tazama, nitatuma nyoka wenye sumu kali katikati yenu, fira ambao hawawezi kulogwa, nao watawauma,” asema Bwana.
“For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says the LORD.
18 Ee Mfariji wangu katika huzuni, moyo wangu umezimia ndani yangu.
Oh that I could comfort myself against sorrow! My heart is faint within me.
19 Sikia kilio cha watu wangu kutoka nchi ya mbali: “Je, Bwana hayuko Sayuni? Je, Mfalme wake hayuko tena huko?” “Kwa nini wamenikasirisha kwa vinyago vyao, kwa sanamu zao za kigeni zisizofaa?”
Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off: “Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King in her?” “Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images, and with foreign idols?”
20 “Mavuno yamepita, kiangazi kimekwisha, nasi hatujaokolewa.”
“The harvest is past. The summer has ended, and we are not saved.”
21 Kwa kuwa watu wangu wamepondwa, nami nimepondeka pia; ninaomboleza, nayo hofu kuu imenishika.
For the hurt of the daughter of my people, I am hurt. I mourn. Dismay has taken hold of me.
22 Je, hakuna zeri ya kuponya katika Gileadi? Je, hakuna tabibu huko? Kwa nini basi hakuna uponyaji wa majeraha ya watu wangu?
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
