Yeremia 2
1 Neno la BWANA lilinijia likisema,
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 “Nenda ukanene katika masikio ya Yerusalemu. Useme; BWANA asema hivi: Ninakumbuka agano la uaminifu la ujana wako, upendo wako wakati tulipokuwa tumechumbiana, ulipokuwa ukinihitaji kule jangwani, katika ile nchi iliyokuwa haijapandwa.
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3 Israeli alikuwa ametengwa kwa BWANA, malimbuko yake ya mavuno yake! Wote waliokula malimbuko yake walikuwa na hatia! majanga yaliwajia—asema BWANA.'”
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
4 Sikilizeni neno la BWANA, enyi nyumba ya Yakobo na kila familia katika nyumba ya Israeli.
Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
5 BWANA anasema hivi, “Ni makosa gani ambayo baba zenu waliyaona kwangu, hata wakatae kunifuata mimi? hata wazifuate sanamu ambazo hazina chochote na wao kuwa si kitu?
This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
6 Wala hawakusema, BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alitutoa katika nchi ya Misri? BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alituongoza katika jangwa, katika nchi ya Araba na mashimo, katika nchi ya ukame na giza nene, katika nchi ambayo hakuna mtu apitaye wala hakuna mtu anayeishi humo?
They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 Lakini nilwaleta katika nchi ya Kameli, ili mle matunda yake na vitu vingine vyema! Lakini mlipokuja, mliitia unajisi nchi yangu, mliufany urithi wangu kuwa chukizo!
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable.
8 Hata makuhani hawakusema, 'BWANA yuko wapi?' na watalamu wa sheria hawakunijali mimi! wachungaji wametenda dhambi dhidi yangu. Manabii wamemtolea Baali unabii na kuvitafuta vitu ambvyo havina faida.
The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
9 Kwa hiyo nitaendelea kuwashitaki - hili ni neno la BWANA - na nitawashitiki watoto wa watoto wenu.
Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
10 Kwa kuvuka kwenda hadi pwani ya Kitimu na kutazama. Tuma wajumbe kwenda Kedari na tafuta uone kama kama iliwahi kutokea hapo awali vitu kama hivi.
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Je, taifa limebadilisha miungu, hata kama haikuwa miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa kitu ambacho hakiwezi kuwasaidia.
Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
12 Sitajabuni, enyi mbingu kwa sababu ya hili! Tetemekeni na kuogopa -asema BWANA.
Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,”
13 Kwa kuwa watu wangu wametenda maovu mawili dhidi yangu: Wameziacha chemichemi za maji ya uhai kwa kuchimba mabarika kwa ajili yao, mabarika yanayovuja yasiyoweza kutunza maji!
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14 Je, Israeli ni mtumwa? Kwani hakuzaliwa nyumbani? Kwa nini sasa amekuwa nyara?
Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
15 Wanasimba wameunguruma dhidi yake. Wamepiga kelele sana na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa. Miji yake imeharibiwa na kubaki bila watu.
The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
16 Pia watu wa Nufu na Tahapanesi watakinyoa kichwa chako.
The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17 Je, hamkufanya haya kwa ajili yenu mlipomwacha BWANA, wakati Mungu wenu, alipokuwa akiwaongoza njiani?
Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
18 Kwa hiyo, kwa nini kutafuta msaada Misri na kunywa maji ya Shihori? Kwa nini kutafuta msaada Ashuru na kunywa maji ya Mto Frati?
Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Uovu wako unakukemea, na maasi yako yatakuadhibu. Kwa hiyo yafikiri hayo; tambua kuwa ni uovu na uchungu kwenu ninyi kuniacha mimi, BWANA Mungu wako, na kutokuwa na hofu yangu - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,”
20 Kwa kuwa niliivunja nira yenu mliyokuwa nayo wakati wa kale; Nilivichana vifungo vyako kutoka kwako. Lakini bado ulisema, 'Sitamtumikia!' tangu ulipopiga magoti katika kila kilima kuusogelea kila mti wenye majani mabichhi, enyi makahaba.
“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
21 Lakini mimi mwenyewe niliwapanda kama mzabibu niliouchagua, mbegu iliyokamilika. Lakini tazama jinsi ulivyobadilika mbele yangu, na kuwa mzabibu usiofaa na mzabibu pori!
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
22 Kwa kuwa hata kama utajisafisha mwenyewe mtoni na kuoga kwa sabuni kali, bado dhambi yako ni madoa mbele yangu - asema BWANA Mungu.
Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,”
23 Wawezaje kusema, 'Mimi sijanajisika! Mimi sjaenda kwa Mabaal?' Tazama tabia zako zilivyokuwa bondeni! Tambua kile ulichofanya, wewe ngamia mwepesi! akimbiaye katika njia yake!
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
24 Wewe ni punda wa mwitu, aliyeizoelea nyika, avutaye pumzi za upepo usiofaa katika tamaa ya kuishi! Ni nani awezaye kumgeuza anapotafuta dume la kumpanda? Na punda dume amtafutaye hajichoshi mwenyewe. Huenda kwake wakati wa mwezi wa kupandwa.
a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
25 Lazima uizuie miguu yako isikose kiatu na koo lako kuwa na kiu! Lakini umesema, 'Hakuna matumaini! Hapana! Nawapenda wageni nami huwatafuta!'
You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
26 Kama aibu ya mwizi ilivyo anapokuwa amekamatwa, ndivyo aibu ya Israeli itakavyokuwa - wao, wafalme wao, malikia wao, makuhani na manabii wao!
As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
27 Hawa ndio wale waiambiayo miti, 'Ninyi ndio baba zangu,' na mawe, 'Ninyi ndio mlinizaa.' Kwa kuwa migongo yao hunitazama na siyo nyuso zao. Hata hivyo, wakati wa shida husema, 'Amka utuokoe!'
say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces, yet in the time of trouble they beg, ‘Rise up and save us!’
28 Lakini iko wapi ile miungu mliyojitengenezea? Acha hao wainuke kama wanaweza kuwaokoa wakati wa shida, kwa kuwa hizo sanamu zenu zina idadi sawa na miji yenu, katika Yuda.
But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
29 Kwa hiyo kwa nini kunituhumu kwa kufanya makosa? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,”
30 Nimewadhibu watu wenu bure. Wala hawakutaka kurudiwa. Upanga wako umewaangamiza manabii wenu kama kama simba aangamizaye!
“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
31 Enyi watu wa kizazi hiki! Sikilizeni neno langu, neno la BWANA! Je, nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli? Au nchi yenye giza nene? Kwa nini watu wangu husema, 'Acha tuzungukezunguke, hatutakuja kwako tena'?
You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?
32 Je, mwanamwali anaweza kusahau mapambo yake, na bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wngu wamenisahau mimi kwa siku nyingi!
Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
33 Jinsi mlivyotengeneza njia zenu vizuri ili kutafuta mapenzi. Hata mmewafundisha njia zenu wanawake waovu.
How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
34 Damu ambayo ilikuwa ndio uhai wa watu wasio na hatia, imeonekana katika mavazi yenu. Hawa watu hawajawahi kuonekana katika matendo maovu.
Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
35 Pamoja na mambo haya yote, wewe unaeendelea kusema kuwa hauna hatia. Kwa hakika hasira ya BWANA itageuka kutoka kwangu. 'Lakini tazama! Utahukumiwa kwa sababu, 'Sikutenda dhambi.'
you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Kwa nini mnatangatanga kwa urahisi katika njia zenu? Pia Misri itawahuzunisha sana, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ashuru.
How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
37 Mtaondoka hapo mkiwa mmehuzunika sana, mkiwa mmeweka mikono vichwani mwenu, kwa kuwa BWANA amemkutaa yule mliyemtumainia, kwa hiyo hamtapata msaada toka kwao,”
Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
