< Yeremia 17 >

1 “Dhambi ya Yuda imeandikwa kwa kalamu ya chuma yenye ncha ya almasi. Imechongwa kwenye kibao cha mioyo yao na kwenye pembe za madhabahu zako.
Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord.
2 Watoto wao wanakumbuka madhabahu zao na miti yao ya Ashera kwa miti ya majani kwenye milima mirefu.
3 Mlima wangu katika nchi ya wazi na mali yako yote pamoja na hazina zako zote, nitakupa kama nyara kwa wengine. Hiyo ndiyo thamani ya maeneo yako ya juu na dhambi iliyo katika maeneo yako yote.
4 Utapoteza urithi niliokupa. Nitakutumikisha kwa adui zako katika nchi ambayo hujui, kwa maana umewasha moto katika ghadhabu yangu, ambao utakawaka milele.”
5 Bwana asema, “Mtu anayemtegemea mwanadamu amelaaniwa; amfanyaye mwanadamu kuwa nguvu yake na kugeuza moyo wake mbali na Bwana.
6 Kwa maana atakuwa kama msitu mdogo katika Araba na hawezi kuona kitu kizuri kikija. Atakaa katika maeneo ya mawe jangwani, nchi isiyokuwa na wakazi.
And he shall be as the wild tamarisk in the desert: he shall not see when good comes; but he shall dwell in barren [places], and in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 Lakini mtu anayemtegemea Bwana amebarikiwa, kwa kuwa Bwana ndiye tumaini lake.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord shall be.
8 Kwa maana atakuwa kama mmea karibu na maji kando ya mto; mizizi yake itaenea. Hawezi kuona joto likija, kwa kuwa majani yake yatakuwa mabichi. Kisha mwaka wa ukame hawezi kuwa na wasiwasi, wala hataacha kuzalisha matunda.
And he shall be as a thriving tree by the waters, and he shall cast forth his root toward a moist place: he shall not fear when heat comes, and there shall be upon him shady branches: he shall not fear in a year of drought, and he shall not fail to bear fruit.
9 Moyo ni mdanganyifu zaidi kuliko kitu kingine chochote. Una mgonjwa; ni nani anayeweza kuelewa?
The heart is deep beyond all things, and it is the man, and who can know him?
10 Mimi ni Bwana, ninayechunguza akili, ambaye hujaribu viuno. Ninampa kila mtu kulingana na njia zake, kulingana na matunda ya matendo yake.
I the Lord try the hearts, and prove the reins, to give to every one according to his ways, and according to the fruits of his devices.
11 kama Kware akusanyaye mayai asiyotaga. Mtu anaweza kuwa tajiri kwa udhalimu, lakini wakati nusu ya siku zake ukipita, utajiri huo utamuacha, na mwishowe atakuwa mpumbavu.”
The partridge utters her voice, she gathers [eggs] which she did not lay; [so is a man] gaining his wealth unjustly; in the midst of his days [his riches] shall leave him, and at his latter end he will be a fool.
12 “Mahali pa hekalu letu ni kiti cha enzi cha utukufu, kilichoinuliwa tangu mwanzo.
An exalted throne of glory is our sanctuary.
13 Bwana ni tumaini la Israeli. Wote ambao wanakuacha watakuwa na aibu. Wale walio katika nchi ambao wanageuka kutoka kwako watauliwa. Kwa maana wamwacha Bwana, chemchemi ya maji yaliyo hai.
O Lord, the hope of Israel, let all that have left you be ashamed, let them that have revolted be written on the earth, because they have forsaken the fountain of life, the Lord.
14 Niponye, Bwana, na mimi nitaponywa! Niokoe mimi, nami nitaokolewa. Kwa maana wewe ndio wimbo wangu wa sifa.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my boast.
15 Tazama, wananiambia, 'Neno la Bwana liko wapi? Hebu lije!'
Behold, they say to me, Where is the word of the Lord? let it come.
16 Mimi sikuwahi kuacha kuwa mchungaji nyuma yako. Sikuitamani siku ya maafa. Unajua yaliyotoka mdomoni mwangu. Yalifanyika mbele ya uwepo wako.
But I have not been weary of following you, nor have I desired the day of man; you know; the [words] that proceed out of my lips are before your face.
17 Usiwe sababu ya hofu kwangu. Wewe ni kimbilio langu siku ya msiba.
Be not to me a stranger, [but] spare me in the evil day.
18 Waaibike watu wanaoniudhi, lakini nisiaibike mimi. Wataogopa, lakini usiache nifadhaike. Tuma siku ya maafa dhidi yao na kuwaangamiza maradufu.”
Let them that persecute me be ashamed, but let me not be ashamed: let them be alarmed, but let me not be alarmed: bring upon them the evil day, crush them with double destruction.
19 Bwana akaniambia hivi: “Nenda ukasimame katika lango la watu ambako wafalme wa Yuda wanaingia na kutoka, basi katika malango mengine yote ya Yerusalemu.
Thus says the Lord; Go and stand in the gates of the children of your people, by which the kings of Juda enter, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem:
20 Uwaambie, 'Sikieni neno la Bwana, wafalme wa Yuda, na ninyi watu wote wa Yuda, na kila mtu wa Yerusalemu atakayeingia kwa njia ya malango haya.
and you shall say to them, Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Juda, and all Judea, and all Jerusalem, [all] who go in at these gates:
21 Bwana asema hivi: “Jihadharini kwa ajili ya maisha yenu na msichukue mzigo siku ya sabato ili muilete katika malango ya Yerusalemu.
thus says the Lord; Take heed to your souls, and take up no burdens on the sabbath-day, and go not forth [through] the gates of Jerusalem;
22 Wala msilete mzigo nje ya nyumba zenu siku ya sabato. Msifanye kazi yoyote, lakini muitenge siku ya Sabato, kama nilivyowaagiza wazee wako kufanya.'”
and carry forth no burdens out of your houses on the sabbath-day, and you shall do no work: sanctify the sabbath-day, as I commanded your fathers.
23 Hawakusikiliza wala kutaega masikio yao, lakini walifanya shingo zao kuwa ngumu ili wasinisikilize wala kukubali maonyo.
But they listened not, and inclined not their ear, but stiffened their neck more than their fathers [did], so as not to hear me, and not to receive correction.
24 Itatokea kwamba ikiwa mtanisikiliza kweli-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-na msilete mzigo kwenye malango ya jiji hili siku ya sabato lakini badala yake mkatenga siku ya sabato kwa Bwana na msifanye kazi yoyote juu yake -
And it shall come to pass, if you will listen to me, says the Lord, to carry in no burdens through the gates of this city on the sabbath-day, and to sanctify the sabbath-day, so as to do no work [upon it],
25 basi wafalme, wakuu, na wale wanaokaa kiti cha Daudi wataingia malango ya mji huu kwa magari na farasi, wao na viongozi wao, watu wa Yuda na wenyeji wa Yerusalemu. Na mji huu utakaa milele.
that there shall enter through the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, and riding on their chariots and horses, they, and their princes, the men of Juda, and the dwellers in Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever.
26 Watakuja kutoka miji ya Yuda na kutoka pande zote za Yerusalemu, kutoka nchi ya Benyamini na visiwa vya chini, kutoka milimani na kutoka kaskazini, wakileta sadaka za kuteketezwa, dhabihu, sadaka za nafaka na ubani, sadaka za shukrani kwenye nyumba ya Bwana.
And [men] shall come out of the cities of Juda, and from round about Jerusalem, and out of the land of Benjamin, and out of the plain country, and from the hill country, and from the south [country], bringing whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and incense, and manna, and frankincense, bringing praise to the house of the Lord.
27 Lakini ikiwa hamtasikiliza-kutakasa siku ya Sabato, kutochukua mizigo nzito, wala msiingie milango ya Yerusalemu siku ya sabato, nitawasha moto katika malango yake, nao utaangamiza majumba kuteketeza ngome za Yerusalemu, na hauwezi kuzimika.
But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to me to sanctify the sabbath-day, to bear no burdens, nor go in [with them by] the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the streets of Jerusalem, and shall not be quenched.

< Yeremia 17 >