Yeremia 13

1 Bwana aliniambia hivi, “Nenda ukape nguo ya kitani na kuiweka karibu na kiuno chako, lakini usiiweke kwenye maji kwanza.”

This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”

2 Kwa hiyo nilinunua vazi kama vile Bwana alivyoagiza, na nikafunga karibu na kiuno changu.

So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.

3 Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia mara ya pili, kusema,

Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time:

4 “Twaa vazi lako ulilolinunua lililo karibu na kiuno chako, uinuke, ukasafiri mpaka Frati. Ukaifiche huko katika mwamba wa jabali.

“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”

5 Basi nikaenda na kuificha katika Frati kama vile Bwana alivyoniamuru.

So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.

6 Baada ya siku nyingi, Bwana akaniambia, “Simama, urudi Frati. Ukaichukue nguo ambayo nilikuambia ufiche.”

Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.”

7 Kwa hiyo nikarudi Frati na kuchimba na kuchukua nguo mahali pale nilipoificha. Lakini tazama! Nguo hiyo ilikuwa imeharibika; haikuwa nzuri kabisa.

So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all.

8 Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia tena, kusema,

Then the word of the LORD came to me:

9 “Bwana asema hivi, Nitakiangamiza kiburi cha Yuda na Yerusalemu.

“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10 Watu hawa waovu wanaokataa kusikia neno langu, ambao huenda katika ugumu wa mioyo yao, ambao hufuata miungu mingine ili kuabudu na kuinama-watakuwa kama hii nguo isiyofaa kwa lolote.

These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

11 Kwa maana kama vile vazi lililofungwa kwenye viuno vya mtu, ndivyo nimefainya nyumba yote ya Israeli na nyumba yote ya Yuda zimefungwa kwangu- hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-wawe watu wangu, ili kunifanya jina, sifa, na heshima. Lakini hawakunisikiliza.

For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

12 Basi uwaambie neno hili, 'Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi Kila chupa itajazwa divai.' Watakuambia, 'Je, hatujui kwamba kila chupa itajazwa divai?'

Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’

13 Basi uwaambie,' Bwana asema hivi: Tazama, nitawajaza kila mkaaji wa nchi hii ulevi, na wafalme wanaokaa kiti cha Daudi, na makuhani, na manabii, na wenyeji wote wa Yerusalemu.

then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.

14 Ndipo nitawagonganisha kila mtu na mwenzake baba na watoto wao pamoja; hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-sitawahurumia au kuwa na huruma, wala sitawarehemu kutoka kwenye uharibifu.

I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”

15 Sikilizeni na makini. Msiwe na kiburi, kwa kuwa Bwana amesema.

Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.

16 Mtukuze Bwana, Mungu wako, kabla ya hajaleta giza, na kabla ya kuifanya miguu yako kuwa na mashaka juu ya milima wakati wa jioni. Kwa maana unatarajia mwanga, lakini ataugeuza kuwa mahali pa giza, na kuwa giza nene.

Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

17 Kwa hiyo ikiwa husikilizi, nitaomboleza peke yangu kwa sababu ya kiburi chako. Hakika macho yangu yatalia na kutoa machozi, kwa sababu kundi la Bwana limechukuliwa mateka.

But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

18 “Mwambieni mfalme na mama wa malkia, 'Jinyenyekezeni, na kukaa chini, kwa maana taji juu ya kichwa chako, kiburi chako na utukufu wako, umeanguka.'

Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”

19 Miji ya Negebu itafungwa, bila mtu wa kufungua. Yuda watachukuliwa mateka, wote uhamishoni.

The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.

20 Inua macho yako na angalia wale wanaokuja kutoka kaskazini. Je, ni kundi gani alilokupa, kundi ambalo lilikuwa zuri sana kwako?

Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?

21 Je, unasema nini wakati Mungu anawaweka wale ambao uliwafundisha kuwa marafiki? Je, huu si mwanzo wa maumivu ya utungu ambayo yatakuchukua kama mwanamke aliye katika kuzaa?

What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?

22 Kisha unaweza kusema moyoni mwako, 'Kwa nini mambo haya yanatokea kwangu?' Itakuwa kwa uovu wa maovu yako ambapo marinda yako yamefunuliwa na umeumizwa.

And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed.

23 Je, watu wa Kushi hubadilisha rangi yao ya ngozi, au chui hubadilisha madoa yake? Ikiwa ndivyo, basi wewe mwenyewe, ingawa unazoea uovu, utaweza kufanya mema.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good— you who are accustomed to doing evil.

24 Kwa hiyo nitawaangamiza kama makapi ambayo yanaangamia katika upepo wa jangwa.

“I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.

25 Hii ndiyo niliyokupa, sehemu ambayo nimekuagiza kwako-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana - kwa sababu umenisahau na kuamini katika udanganyifu.

This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.

26 Kwa hiyo mimi mwenyewe nitaondoa nguo zako, na sehemu zako za siri zitaonekana.

So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen.

27 Uzinzi na ubembe wako, aibu ya tabia yako ya uasherati kwenye milima na katika mashamba! Nitayafanya yaonekane, mambo haya ya machukizo! Ole wako, Yerusalemu! Hutaki kuwa safi. Je! Hili litaendelea kwa muda gani?”

Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields— I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”