Yeremia 2

1 Neno la BWANA lilinijia likisema,

And the word of Yahweh came unto 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 cry in the ears of Jerusalem saying—Thus saith Yahweh, I remember in thy behalf, the lovingkindness of thy youthful days, The love of thy bridal estate, —Thy coming out after me, Through the desert, Through 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.'”

Holiness, was Israel unto Yahweh, The first-fruit of his increase, —All that devoured it, were held guilty, Calamity used to come upon them, —Declareth Yahweh.

4 Sikilizeni neno la BWANA, enyi nyumba ya Yakobo na kila familia katika nyumba ya Israeli.

Hear ye the word of Yahweh O house of Jacob, And all the 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?

Thus, saith Yahweh, —What did your fathers find in me by way of perversity, that they removed far from me, —and went after vanity, and became vain?

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?

Neither said they, Where is Yahweh, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, —Who led us Through the desert, Through a land of wastes and clefts, Through a land of parched places and of death-shade, Through a land, Along which no man had passed, And in which no son of earth dwelt?

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!

Then brought I you into a country of garden land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof, —and yet when ye entered, then defiled ye my land, and mine inheritance, ye made an abomination

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, said not Where is Yahweh? And, they who handled the law, did not acknowledge me, And the shepherds transgressed against me, —And the prophets, prophesied by Baal, And so after things that could not profit, did they walk.

9 Kwa hiyo nitaendelea kuwashitaki - hili ni neno la BWANA - na nitawashitiki watoto wa watoto wenu.

Therefore yet further will I plead with you Declareth Yahweh, Yea with your children’s children, will I plead.

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.

For—pass through the coastlands of the West and see, And unto Kedar, send ye and consider diligently, —And see—whether there hath been the like of this!

11 Je, taifa limebadilisha miungu, hata kama haikuwa miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa kitu ambacho hakiwezi kuwasaidia.

Hath a nation, changed gods, although they were No-gods? Yet my people have changed my glory for that which could not profit!

12 Sitajabuni, enyi mbingu kwa sababu ya hili! Tetemekeni na kuogopa -asema BWANA.

Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this, —And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh.

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 two wicked things, have my people committed, —Me, have they forsaken a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves cisterns broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.

14 Je, Israeli ni mtumwa? Kwani hakuzaliwa nyumbani? Kwa nini sasa amekuwa nyara?

Was Israel a servant? Born in the house, was he? Wherefore hath he become a prey?

15 Wanasimba wameunguruma dhidi yake. Wamepiga kelele sana na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa. Miji yake imeharibiwa na kubaki bila watu.

Against him, have been roaring wild lions, They have uttered their voice, —and have made his land a desolation, His cities, have been burned, so as to have no inhabitant.

16 Pia watu wa Nufu na Tahapanesi watakinyoa kichwa chako.

Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have been crushing the crown of the head.

17 Je, hamkufanya haya kwa ajili yenu mlipomwacha BWANA, wakati Mungu wenu, alipokuwa akiwaongoza njiani?

Is not this what thou wast certain to do for thyself, —in that thou didst forsake Yahweh thy God, when he was leading thee by 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, therefore what hast thou to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do with the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River ["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.

Let thy wickedness correct thee And thine apostasies, rebuke thee, Know therefore and see That it is a wicked thing and a bitter, that thou shouldest have forsaken Yahweh thy God, And that the dread of me should not have pertained to thee, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh of hosts.

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, in age-past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress, —Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman.

21 Lakini mimi mwenyewe niliwapanda kama mzabibu niliouchagua, mbegu iliyokamilika. Lakini tazama jinsi ulivyobadilika mbele yangu, na kuwa mzabibu usiofaa na mzabibu pori!

Yet, I, planted thee a precious vine, a wholly true seed, —How then didst thou change thyself towards me, into the degenerate plantings of the alien vine?

22 Kwa kuwa hata kama utajisafisha mwenyewe mtoni na kuoga kwa sabuni kali, bado dhambi yako ni madoa mbele yangu - asema BWANA Mungu.

For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity inscribed before me Declareth My Lord Yahweh.

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 canst thou say, I have not defiled myself, After the Baalim, have I not gone? See thy way, in the valley, Own what thou hast done, —A nimble young she-camel, crossing her own ways;

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 ass, taught of the desert, In the desire of her soul, she snuffeth the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her back? None who seek her, will weary themselves, In her month, they shall find her!

25 Lazima uizuie miguu yako isikose kiatu na koo lako kuwa na kiu! Lakini umesema, 'Hakuna matumaini! Hapana! Nawapenda wageni nami huwatafuta!'

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou saidst Hopeless! No! for I love foreigners and after them, will I go.

26 Kama aibu ya mwizi ilivyo anapokuwa amekamatwa, ndivyo aibu ya Israeli itakavyokuwa - wao, wafalme wao, malikia wao, makuhani na manabii wao!

As the shame of a thief when he is found, So, hath been put to shame, the house of Israel, —They, their kings their princes, and 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!'

Saying, to a tree, My father, art thou! And to a stone, Thou, didst give us birth, For they have turned unto me the back and not the face, —But in the time of their calamity, they will say, Arise, 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.

Where then are thy gods which thou hast made for thyself? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy calamity, —For according to the number of thy cities, have become thy gods O Judah.

29 Kwa hiyo kwa nini kunituhumu kwa kufanya makosa? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi - asema BWANA wa majeshi.

Wherefore, should ye plead against me, All of you, have transgressed against me Declareth Yahweh.

30 Nimewadhibu watu wenu bure. Wala hawakutaka kurudiwa. Upanga wako umewaangamiza manabii wenu kama kama simba aangamizaye!

In vain, have I smitten your children, Correction, have they not accepted, —Your sword hath devoured your prophets, as a lion that destroyeth.

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'?

O generation see, ye, the word of Yahweh, A desert, became I unto Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore, have my people said, We have roved about, We will not come in any more unto thee?

32 Je, mwanamwali anaweza kusahau mapambo yake, na bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wngu wamenisahau mimi kwa siku nyingi!

Can, a virgin, forget, her ornaments, —A bride, her girdle? Yet, my people, have forgotten me, days without number.

33 Jinsi mlivyotengeneza njia zenu vizuri ili kutafuta mapenzi. Hata mmewafundisha njia zenu wanawake waovu.

How thou dost make winsome thy way, to seek love! Therefore, even unto wicked women, hast thou taught thy ways.

34 Damu ambayo ilikuwa ndio uhai wa watu wasio na hatia, imeonekana katika mavazi yenu. Hawa watu hawajawahi kuonekana katika matendo maovu.

Even in thy skirts, is there found, The blood of the lives of the helpless innocents, —Not in the act of breaking in, didst thou find them, yet [the blood is] on all these.

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.'

Although thou saidst, Because I am innocent, surely hath his anger turned back from me, —Behold me! entering into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned!

36 Kwa nini mnatangatanga kwa urahisi katika njia zenu? Pia Misri itawahuzunisha sana, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ashuru.

How vigorously, thou goest about changing thy way! Even of Egypt, shalt thou be ashamed, just as thou wast ashamed of Assyria:

37 Mtaondoka hapo mkiwa mmehuzunika sana, mkiwa mmeweka mikono vichwani mwenu, kwa kuwa BWANA amemkutaa yule mliyemtumainia, kwa hiyo hamtapata msaada toka kwao,”

Even from this one, shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head, —For Yahweh hath rejected those in whom thou confidest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.