< Yeremia 15 >
1 Kisha Bwana akaniambia, “Hata kama Musa au Samweli walisimama mbele yangu, bado sitawafikiria watu hawa. Watoe mbele yangu, ili waweze kuondoka.
Then the LORD said to me, "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
2 Ikiwa watakuambia, 'Tunapaswa kwenda wapi?' Kisha uwaambie, 'Bwana asema hivi Wale wanaotakiwa kufa wanapaswa kufa; wale waliotayarishwa kwa upanga wanapaswa kwenda kwa upanga. Wale waliopelekwa kwa njaa wanapaswa kwenda kwa njaa; na wale waliopelekwa uhamisho wanapaswa kuhamishwa.'
It shall happen, when they tell you, 'Where shall we go forth?' Then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.
3 Kwa kuwa nitawapa kwa makundi manne-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-upanga wa kuua wengine, mbwa wararue, ndege wa angani na mnyama mkali wale na kuangamiza.
I will appoint over them four kinds, says the LORD: the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the earth, to devour and to destroy.
4 Nitawafanyia jambo lenye kutisha kwa falme zote za dunia, kwa sababu Manase mwana wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda, alifanya huko Yerusalemu.
I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
5 Kwa maana ni nani atakayewahurumia, Yerusalemu? Ni nani atakayeomboleza kwa ajili yako? Nani atakayegeuka kuuliza kuhusu ustawi wako?
For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Or who will bemoan you? Or who will turn aside to ask of your welfare?
6 Umeniacha-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-umerudi nyuma. Kwa hiyo nitawapiga kwa mkono wangu na kukuangamiza. Nimechoka kuwahurumia.
'You have rejected me,' says the LORD, 'you have gone backward:' therefore have I stretched out my hand against you, and destroyed you; I am weary with repenting.
7 Kwa hiyo nitawapepea kwa kipepeo katika milango ya nchi. Nitawafukuza. Nitawaangamiza watu wangu kwani hawakurudi na kuziacha njia zao.
I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they did not return from their ways.
8 Nitawafanya wajane wao kuwa zaidi ya mchanga wa bahari. Dhidi ya mama wa vijana nitamtuma mwangamizi mchana. Nitafanya mshtuko na hofu ghafla kuanguka juu yao.
Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday; I have made anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.
9 Mama aliyezaa watoto saba ataharibika. Atashuka. Jua lake limekuchwa wakati bado ni siku. Yeye atakuwa na aibu na kufedheheka, kwa kuwa nitawatoa wale waliosalia kwa upanga mbele ya maadui zao-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana.”
She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and their residue will I deliver to the sword before their enemies," says the LORD.
10 Ole wangu, mama yangu! Kwa maana umenizaa, mimi ambaye ni mtu wa kushindana na hoja katika nchi yote. Sijakopesha, wala hakuna mtu aliyenikopesha, lakini wote wananilaani.
"Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth. I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me."
11 Bwana akasema “Je sitakuokoa kwa manufaa? Kwa hakika nitawafanya maadui wako waombe msaada wakati wa msiba na dhiki.
The LORD said, "Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make petition to you in the time of evil and in the time of distress.
12 Je, mtu anaweza kusaga chuma? Hasa chuma kutoka kaskazini iliyochanganywa na shaba?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze?
13 Nitawapa adui zako utajiri wako na hazina yako kama nyara za bure. Nitafanya hili kwa sababu ya dhambi zako zote zilizofanywa ndani ya mipaka yako yote.
Your substance and your treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders.
14 Ndipo nitakufanya utumikie adui zako katika nchi ambayo huijui, maana moto utawaka, ukawaka katika ghadhabu yangu juu yako.”
I will make you serve your enemies in a land which you do not know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn on you."
15 Wewe mwenyewe wajua, Bwana! Unikumbuke na kunisaidia. Ukanilipie kisasi kwa ajili ya wanaonifuata. Katika uvumilivu wako usiniondoe. Utambue kwamba nimekuwa na aibu kwa ajili yako. Maneno yako yamepatikana, na nikayala.
"LORD, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; do not take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach.
16 Maneno yako yalikuwa furaha kwangu, furaha yangu kwa moyo wangu; kwa maana jina lako linatangazwa juu yangu, Bwana, Mungu wa majeshi.
Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, LORD, God of hosts.
17 Sikuketi katika mkutano wa wale waliosherehekea au waliofurahi. Nimeketi kwa faragha kwa sababu ya mkono wako wenye nguvu, kwa maana umenijaza na hasira.
I did not sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation.
18 Kwa nini maumivu yangu yanaendelea na jeraha langu halitibiki, linakataa kuponywa? Je, utakuwa kama maji ya udanganyifu kwangu, maji yanayokauka?
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?"
19 Kwa hiyo Bwana asema hivi, “Yeremia, Ikiwa utatubu, nitakurejesha, nawe utasimama mbele yangu na kunitumikia. Kwa maana ukitenganisha mambo ya kipumbavu kwa vitu vya thamani, utakuwa kama kinywa changu. Watu watakuja kwako, lakini wewe mwenyewe usirudi kwao.
Therefore thus says the LORD, "If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them.
20 Nitakufanya kama ukuta wa shaba usioweza kuingilika kwa watu hawa, nao watapigana vita dhidi yako. Lakini hawatakushinda, kwa kuwa mimi ni pamoja nawe ili kuokoa na kukuponya-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-
I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you," says the LORD.
21 kwa maana nitakuokoa mikononi mwa waovu na kukukomboa katika mkono wa mshindani.”
"I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible."