Yeremia 23
1 “Ole wao wachungaji ambao huangamiza na kuwatawanya kondoo wa malisho yangu-hii ndiyo ahadi ya Bwana.”
Woe to the shepherds, Who lose and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith Jehovah.
2 Kwa hiyo, Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi juu ya wachungaji ambao wanawachunga watu wake, “Ninyi mnawatawanya kundi langu na kuwafukuza. Hamuwajali hata kidogo. Tambueni hili! Mimi nitawalipiza uovu wa matendo yenu-hili ni tamko la Bwana.
For concerning the shepherds, the feeders of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, And have not taken care of them. Behold, I am about to requite you For the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah.
3 Mimi mwenyewe nitakusanya mabaki ya kondoo wangu kutoka nchi zote nilizowafukuza, nami nitawarejesha kwenye eneo la malisho, ambako watazaa na kuongezeka.
But I will gather the remnant of my flock From all the countries whither I have driven them, And I will bring them back to their folds, And they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 Ndipo nitawainua wachungaji juu yao ambao watawachunga hivyo hawataogopa tena au kupotezwa. Hakuna hata mmoja atakayepotea-hili ni tamko la Bwana.
And I will raise up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; They shall fear no more, nor be dismayed; Nor shall they be lost, saith Jehovah.
5 Angalia, siku zinakuja-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-nitakapomuinulia Daudi tawi la haki. Atatawala kama mfalme; atatenda kwa busara na kusababisha hukumu na haki katika nchi.
Behold, the days are coming, saith Jehovah, When I will raise up from David a righteous Branch, And a king shall reign and prosper, And shall maintain justice and equity in the land.
6 Katika siku zake Yuda ataokolewa, na Israeli wataishi kwa usalama. Na jina lake atakayeitwa Bwana ni haki yetu.
In his days Judah shall be saved, And Israel shall dwell securely; And this is the name which shall be given him, Jehovah-is-our-salvation.
7 Kwa hiyo, tazama, siku zinakuja-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-hawatasema tena, 'Kama Bwana aishivyo, aliyewatoa wana wa Israeli kutoka nchi ya Misri.'
Therefore, behold, the days shall come, saith Jehovah, When they shall no more say, “As Jehovah liveth Who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt!”
8 Badala yake watasema, 'Kama Bwana aishivyo, ambaye aliwaleta na ambaye aliwaongoza wana wa nyumba ya Israeli kutoka nchi ya kaskazini na nchi zote walizofukuzwa.' Nao watakaa katika nchi yao wenyewe.”
But, “As Jehovah liveth Who brought up and led the race of Israel from the north country, And from all the countries whither I had driven them!” And they shall dwell in their own land.
9 Kuhusu manabii, moyo wangu umevunjika ndani yangu, na mifupa yangu yote imetetemeka. Nimekuwa kama mlevi, kama mtu ambaye ameshindwa na divai, kwa sababu ya Bwana na maneno yake matakatifu.
Concerning the Prophets. My heart is broken within me; All my bones tremble. I am become like a drunken man, Like a man whom wine hath overcome, Because of Jehovah, And because of his holy words.
10 Kwa maana nchi imejaa wazinzi. Kwa sababu ya hayo nchi imeuka. Milima katika jangwa imekauka. Njia hizi za manabii ni mbaya; nguvu zao hazitumiwi kwa namna sahihi.
For the land is full of adulteries; Because of a curse doth the land mourn; The pastures of the waste are dried up; For they run to do evil, And their might is without right.
11 Kwa maana manabii na makuhani wote wamekufuru. Nimeona uovu wao ndani ya nyumba yangu! - hili ndilo tamko la Bwana;
Yea, both prophet and priest are profane; Even in my house have I found their wickedness, saith Jehovah.
12 kwa hiyo njia yao itakuwa kama mahali pa kupumzika katika giza. Watasukumwa chini. Wao wataanguka ndani yake. Kwa maana nitawatuma mabaya juu yao katika mwaka wa adhabu yao; hili ndilo tamko la Bwana.
Therefore shall their way become as slippery places in the dark; They shall be driven on and fall therein; For I will bring evil upon them In the time of their visitation, saith Jehovah.
13 kwa maana nimeona uchungu kati ya manabii huko Samaria. Walitabiri kwa Baali na wakawaongoza watu wangu Israeli kwenye njia sahihi.
In the prophets of Samaria have I seen folly; They prophesy in the name of Baal, and cause my people Israel to err.
14 Na miongoni mwa manabii huko Yerusalemu nimeona mambo ya kutisha: wanafanya uzinzi na huenda kwa udanganyifu. Wanaimarisha mikono ya waovu; hakuna mtu anarejea na kuacha uovu wake. Wote wamekuwa kama Sodoma kwangu na wenyeji wake kama Gomora!”
In the prophets of Jerusalem also have I seen a horrible thing; They commit adultery, and walk in falsehood; They strengthen the hands of evil-doers, So that none doth turn from his iniquity. They have all become to me as Sodom, And her inhabitants as Gomorrah.
15 Kwa hiyo, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi juu ya manabii, “Tazameni, nitawafanya wale magugu na kunywa maji yenye sumu, kwa maana kufuru imetoka kwa manabii wa Yerusalemu na kuingia katika nchi yote.”
Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, And give them the water of hemlock to drink; For from the prophets of Jerusalem Hath profaneness gone forth into all the land.
16 Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, “Usisikilize maneno ya manabii wanaokuhubiri. Wamekudanganya! Wanatangaza maono kutoka kwenye mawazo yao wenyewe, si kwa kinywa cha Bwana.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Hearken not to the words of the prophets; They lead you to vanity; They utter the vision of their own heart, And not from the mouth of Jehovah.
17 Wanasema daima kwa wale wanaonidharau mimi, 'Bwana asema kutakuwa na amani kwako.' Na kila mtu anayetembea katika ukaidi wa moyo wake anasema, 'mabaya hayatakuja kwenu.'
To them that despise me they say continually, “Jehovah hath said, Ye shall have peace”; And to every one that walketh after the perverseness of his heart, “No evil shall come upon you.”
18 Lakini nani amesimama katika mkutano wa baraza la Bwana? Ni nani anayeona na kusikia neno lake? Ni nani anayezingatia maneno yake na kusikiliza?
For who of them hath stood in the council of Jehovah, And hath seen and heard his word? Who hath listened to his word and heard it?
19 Tazama, kuna dhoruba inayotoka kwa Bwana! Hasira yake inatoka, na dhoruba inazunguka. Inazunguka vichwa vya waovu.
Behold a whirlwind from Jehovah goeth forth in fury, Even a rushing whirlwind; Upon the head of the wicked shall it rush.
20 Hasira za Bwana hazitarejea mpaka zitakapotimiza nia ya moyo wake. Katika siku za mwisho, utaelewa.
The fierce anger of Jehovah shall not turn back, Until he shall have executed, until he shall have accomplished the purpose of his heart. In the latter days ye shall understand it fully.
21 Sikuwatuma manabii hawa. Wao tu walionekana. Sikuwahubiri jambo lolote kwao, lakini bado wanatabiri.
I sent not these prophets, yet they ran; I spake not to them, yet they prophesied.
22 Kwa kuwa kama walisimama katika mkutano wangu wa baraza, wangeweza kuwasababisha watu wangu kusikia neno langu; wangewafanya wapate kuacha maneno yao mabaya na mazoea mabaya.
For if they had stood in my council, Then would they have caused my people to hear my words, And would have turned them from their evil way. And from the wickedness of their doings.
23 Mimi ni Mungu aliye karibu-hili ni tamko la Bwana-mimi sio Mungu aliye mbali?
Am I a God near at hand, saith Jehovah, And not a God afar off?
24 Je, kuna mtu yeyote anayejificha mahali penye siri ili nisiweze kumwona? -Hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-Je mbingu na nchi hazikujawa nami? -hili Ndilo tamko la Bwana.
Can any one hide himself in secret places, So that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah; Do I nor fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
25 Nimesikia yale waliyosema manabii, wale waliokuwa wanatabiri uongo kwa jina langu. Wakisema, 'Nilikuwa na ndoto!
I have heard what the prophets say, Who prophesy falsehood in my name, Saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed.”
26 Nilikuwa na ndoto!' Je, hii itaendelea mpaka lini, manabii wanaotabiri uongo kutoka kwa akili zao, na wanasema nini kutokana na udanganyifu mioyoni mwao?
How long shall this be In the heart of the prophets, who prophesy falsehood, The prophets of the deceit of their own heart,
27 Wana mpango wa kuwafanya watu wangu kusahau jina langu kwa ndoto ambazo wanazoripoti, kila mmoja kwa jirani yake, kama vile babu zao walivyosahau jina langu kwa ajili ya jina la Baali.
Who think to cause my people to forget my name By the dreams which they relate one to another, As their fathers forgot my name through Baal?
28 Nabii aliye na ndoto, aseme ndoto hiyo. Lakini yule ambaye nimemwambia kitu fulani, basi aseme neno langu kwa kweli. Je, majani yanahusiana na nafaka? - hili ni tamko la Bwana-
The prophet who hath a dream, let him tell a dream; And he that hath my word, let him speak my word truly! What is the chaff to the wheat? saith Jehovah.
29 Na neno langu si kama moto? -Hili ni tamko la Bwana-na kama mwamba wenye kupiga nyundo?
Is not my word like fire, saith Jehovah, And like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in pieces?
30 Tazameni, ninapingana na nabii-hii ndiyo ahadi ya Bwana-yeyote anayeiba maneno kutoka kwa mtu mwingine na anasema yanatoka kwangu.
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, That steal my words one from another.
31 Tazama, ninapingana na manabii-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-ambao hutumia lugha zao kutabiri maneno.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, That take their tongues and utter oracles.
32 Tazameni, ninapingana na manabii wanaoota ndoto-hii ndiyo ahadi ya Bwana-na kisha kuwahubiri na kwa njia hii kuwadanganya watu wangu kwa udanganyifu wao na kujivunia. Mimi ni juu yao, kwa kuwa sikuwatuma wala kuwapa amri. Kwa hivyo hawatawasaidia watu hawa - hili ndilo tamko la Bwana.
Behold, I am against the prophets of false dreams, saith Jehovah, Who tell them, and cause my people to err By their lies and their arrogance. I have not sent them, nor commanded them, And they shall not profit this people at all, saith Jehovah.
33 Watu hawa au nabii au kuhani wakakuuliza, 'Je, ni nini tamko la Bwana?' basi lazima uwaambie, 'Ni tamko gani? Kwa maana nimekuacha wewe-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana.
And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest Shall ask thee, saying, “What is the burden from Jehovah?” Then say thou to them, “What is the burden?” That I will cast you away, saith Jehovah.
34 Kwa habari ya manabii, makuhani, na watu wanaosema, 'Hili ndilo tamko la Bwana,' nitamuadhibu mtu huyo na nyumba yake.
And the prophet, the priest, and the people, Who shall say, “The burden of Jehovah,” I will punish that man and his house.
35 Endelea kusema, kila mtu kwa jirani yake na kila mtu kwa ndugu yake, 'Bwana alijibu nini?' na 'Bwana alitangaza nini?'
Thus shall ye speak, one to another: “What hath Jehovah answered?” And, “What hath Jehovah spoken?”
36 Lakini usizungumze tena juu ya tamko la Bwana, kwa kuwa kila tamko kutoka kwa kila mtu limekuwa ujumbe wake mwenyewe, na umepotosha maneno ya Mungu aliye hai, Bwana wa majeshi, Mungu wetu.
And of a burden of Jehovah shall ye speak no more; Else shall every man's word be his burden, Because ye pervert the words of the living God, Of Jehovah of hosts, our God.
37 Utamuuliza nabii hivi, 'Bwana alikujibu nini? Je, Bwana alisema nini? Kisha unasema tamko kutoka kwa Bwana;
Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: “What hath Jehovah answered thee?” And, “What hath Jehovah spoken?”
38 lakini Bwana asema hivi, Sema hivi, “Hili ni tamko la Bwana” ingawa nimekuagiza na kusema, “Usiseme: Hili ni tamko kutoka kwa Bwana.”
If ye shall say, “The burden of Jehovah,” Then thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say, “The burden of Jehovah,” Although I sent to you and said, Ye shall not say, “The burden of Jehovah,”
39 Kwa hiyo, angalia, nitawachukua na kukutupa mbali na mimi, pamoja na jiji ambalo nilikupa wewe na baba zako.
Therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, And I will cast you, and the city which I gave to your fathers, out of my presence;
40 Ndipo nitaweka aibu ya milele na fedheha juu yenu ambayo haitasahauliwa.'”
And I will bring upon you an everlasting reproach, And a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten.
