< Yeremia 25 >
1 Hili ndilo neno ambalo lilimjia Yeremia juu ya watu wote wa Yuda. Ikawa mwaka wa nne wa Yehoyakimu, mwana wa Yosia, mfalme wa Yuda. Huo ndio mwaka wa kwanza wa Nebukadreza, mfalme wa Babeli.
After Jehoiakim had been ruling Judah for almost four years, Yahweh gave me this message for all the people of Judah. It was during the year that King Nebuchadnezzar started to rule in Babylon.
2 Yeremia nabii aliwahubiria watu wote wa Yuda na wenyeji wote wa Yerusalemu.
I spoke this message to all the people in Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah:
3 Akasema, “Kwa miaka ishirini na mitatu, tangu mwaka wa kumi na tatu wa Yosia mwana wa Amoni, mfalme wa Yuda mpaka leo, maneno ya Bwana yamekuja kwangu. Nimewahubiria ninyi. Nilikuwa na nia ya kutangaza, lakini hamkunisikiliza.
“Yahweh has been giving me messages for 23 years. He started giving me messages when Josiah, the son of Amon, had been ruling Judah for almost 13 years. And I have faithfully told you those messages, but you have not paid any attention to them.
4 Bwana akawapeleka watumishi wake wote manabii kwako. Walikuwa na nia ya kwenda, lakini hukusikiliza wala kutega masikio.
Many times Yahweh has sent to you the prophets who served him, but you have not listened to them or paid any attention to what they said.
5 Manabaii hawa walisema, 'Kila mtu auache uovu wake na udhalimu wa matendo yake na kurudi kwenye nchi ambayo Yahwe aliitoa wakati wa zamanai kwa ajili ya babu zenu na ninyi, kama zawadi ya kudumu.
Each time their message was this: ‘Turn from all your evil behavior [MET], from all the evil things that you have continually been doing. If you do that, you will be able to stay in this land that Yahweh gave to you and to your ancestors, [to belong to you] forever.
6 Kwa hiyo msiifuate miungu mingine ili kuiabudu au kuiinamia chini, na msimkasirishe kwa kazi ya mikono yenu ili kwamba awaumize.
Do not cause Yahweh to become angry by serving and worshiping idols that you have made with your hands. If you do not cause him to be angry, he will not punish/harm you.’
7 Lakini hamkunisikiliza-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-kwa hiyo umenikasirisha kwa kazi ya mikono yako ili kujidhuru nafsi zemu.
And Yahweh says, ‘But you would not pay attention to the messages that I [gave to those prophets]. You caused me to become extremely angry by [your worshiping idols] that you had made with your own hands. That resulted in my punishing you.
8 Basi, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, 'Kwa kuwa hukusikiliza maneno yangu,
So [now, I], the Commander of the armies of angels, say that because you have not paid attention to what I said,
9 tazama, nitaagiza amri ya kukusanya watu wote wa kaskazini- asema Bwana- na Nebukadreza, mtumishi wangu, mfalme wa Babeli, na kuwaleta juu ya nchi hii na wenyeji wake, na juu ya mataifa yote yaliyo karibu nawe. Kwa maana nitawaangamiza. Nitawageuza kuwa na hofu, kuwa kitu cha kuzomewa na ukiwa wa daima.
I will gather all [the armies of] the nations that will come from the northeast. I have appointed King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to lead them. I have appointed him to do my work for me. I will bring those [armies] to attack this land and nearby countries. I will completely destroy them, and cause them to be places that people are horrified about, and that people will (ridicule/act contemptuously toward), places that will be ruined forever.
10 Sauti ya furaha na sherehe-sauti ya bwana arusi na bibi arusi, sauti ya mawe ya kusagia na mwanga wa taa-nitafanya mambo yote haya kutoweka kutoka kwa mataifa haya.
I will cause happy singing and laughing to cease in your land. There will no longer be brides and bridegrooms talking [joyfully]. There will not be the sound of people grinding [grain] with millstones. There will be no lamps lit [in your houses].
11 Ndipo nchi hii yote itakuwa ukiwa na hofu, na mataifa haya watamtumikia mfalme wa Babeli kwa miaka sabini.
All of this land will become a desert where no one will live. And [the people of] Israel and of the nearby countries will [will be exiled to Babylonia and] (work for/be slaves of) the kings of Babylon for seventy years.
12 Kisha miaka sabini itakapokamilika, nitamuadhibu mfalme wa Babeli na taifa hilo, nchi ya Wakaldayo-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-kwa uovu wao na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa milele.
Then, after [they have been in Babylonia for] seventy years, I will punish the King of Babylonia and his people for the sins that they have committed. I will cause Babylonia to become a wasteland/desert forever.
13 Nami nitaleta juu ya nchi hiyo maneno yote niliyosema, na kila kitu kilichoandikwa katika kitabu hiki ambacho Yeremia ametabiri juu ya mataifa yote.
I will cause them to experience all the terrible things that Jeremiah has written about—all the punishments that he predicted will happen to all those nations.
14 Kwa maana pia mataifa mengi na wafalme wakuu watapata watumwa kutoka mataifa haya. Nitawalipa kwa matendo yao na kazi za mikono yao.'”
The leaders of many nations will cause the people of Babylonia to become their slaves, like the people of Babylonia caused my people to become slaves. I will punish them like they deserve for [having caused my people to suffer].’”
15 Kwa kuwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi, “Chukua kikombe hiki cha divai ya ghadhabu kutoka mkononi mwangu, ukawanyweshe mataifa yote niliyokutuma.
Then Yahweh, the God [we] Israelis [worship], gave me [a vision. In the vision he was holding a cup of wine]. He said, “Take from me this cup that is full of [wine that represents] punishment [MTY]. I will cause all [the leaders of] the nations to which I will send you to drink [some of] the wine in this cup.
16 Kwa maana watakunywa na kisha watalewa na kufanya wazimu mbele ya upanga ambao nitaupeleka kati yao.”
When they drink [the wine], they will stagger and act like crazy people, because [they will realize that] I will (massacre many of their people/cause many of their people to be killed) [MTY] with swords.”
17 Basi, nikakichukua kikombe mkononi mwa Bwana, nikawanywesha mataifa yote ambayo Bwana alinituma:
So, [in the vision, ] I took that cup [full of wine] from Yahweh, and I took it to all the nations to which he sent me, and caused [the leaders of those] nations to drink [some of that wine].
18 Yerusalemu, miji ya Yuda, na wafalme wake, na wakuu wake, na kuwafanya kuwa ukiwa na kitu cha kutisha, na kuwa kitu cha kuzomewa na laana, kama ilivyo hata leo.
[I went to] Jerusalem and the [other] towns in Judah, and the king and [the other] officials drank [some of the wine] from that cup. And, starting from that day, they all [eventually] were removed from having authority, and became [people whom others] (ridiculed/acted contemptuously towards), who were despised, and cursed.
19 Mataifa mengine pia walipaswa kunywa: Farao mfalme wa Misri na watumishi wake; maafisa wake na watu wake wote;
[In the vision I went to] Egypt [and gave some of the wine] to the king and his officials and many of his people,
20 watu wote wa urithi wa mchanganyiko na wafalme wote wa nchi ya Uzi; na wafalme wote wa nchi ya Wafilisti, na Ashkeloni, na Gaza, na Ekroni, na mabaki ya Ashdodi;
and to foreigners who were living there. [In the vision I also went to] Uz land and to Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod [cities and gave some of the wine] to the kings [of those places].
21 Edomu na Moabu na wana wa Amoni.
[Then in the vision I went to the] Edom, Moab, and Ammon [people-groups],
22 Wafalme wa Tiro na Sidoni, wafalme wa pwani ng'ambo ya pili ya bahari,
and to Tyre and Sidon [cities] and to areas across the [Mediterranean] Sea, and [gave some of the wine] to the kings [of those places].
23 Dedani, Tema, na Busi pamoja na wale wanyoao nywele zao upande wa pili wa vichwa vyao, pia walipaswa kukinywa.
[In the vision I then went] to Dedan, Tema, and Buz [cities in Arabia] and to other distant places (OR, places where people cut their hair short), [and gave some of the wine to leaders in those areas].
24 Watu hawa pia walitakiwa kukinywa; wafalme wote wa Uarabuni na wafalme wote wa watu wa asili mchanganyiko wanaoishi nyikani;
[In the vision I also went to other places in] Arabia and to the [kings of tribes] in the desert
25 wafalme wote wa Zimri, wafalme wote wa Elamu, na wafalme wote wa Wamedi;
and to the kings of the Zimri, Elam, and Media [people-groups],
26 wafalme wote wa kaskazini, wale wa karibu na wale wa mbali—kila mmoja na ndugu zake na falme zote za ulimwengu ambazo ziko chini ya uso wa dunia. Hatimaye mfalme wa Babeli atakunywa baada yao wote.
and to kings in countries to the north that are near [to Israel] and to countries that are far [from Israel], one after the other— [I went to] all the kingdoms in the world [HYP]. And finally, [in my vision I went to] Babylon, and gave [some of] the wine to the king of Babylon—the wine [that symbolized that Yahweh would punish the people of Babylon because he was angry with them] [MTY].
27 Bwana akaniambia, “Basi, uwaambie, 'Bwana wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi kunywa na kulewa, kisha tapika, uanguke, wala usisimame mbele ya upanga nitakaoutuma kati yenu.'
Then [in the vision Yahweh said to me], “Tell them that this is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom we Israelis [worship], says: ‘Drink [from this cup some of the wine that represents the punishment that I will give you]. Drink [a lot of it] and become drunk and vomit. You will fall down and not get up again, because I will cause you to be killed in wars [MTY] that I will send to you.
28 Kisha itatokea kwamba ikiwa wanakataa kuchukua kikombe mkononi mwako ili kunywa, utawaambia, 'Bwana wa majeshi asema hii lazima mnywe.
If any of those to whom you give this wine [MTY] refuse to drink it, tell them that the Commander of the armies of angels says that they must drink it.
29 Kwa maana, tazama, nitaleta janga juu ya mji ulioitwa kwa jina langu, je ninyi mtaachiliwa msiadhibiwe? Hutakuwa huru, kwa maana nitaita upanga juu ya wenyeji wote wa nchi! - ndilo tamko la Bwana wa majeshi.'
I am starting to cause the people of my own city to experience disaster. [Do you think that] you should not be punished [RHQ]? No, you will surely be punished [LIT] because I am causing there to be wars in all the nations on the earth. [That will surely happen because] I, the Commander of the armies of angels, have said it.’
30 Basi wewe mwenyewe, Yeremia, tabiri kwao maneno haya yote. Uwaambie, 'Bwana atanguruma kutoka juu, naye atapaza sauti yake toka makao yake matakatifu, na radi kutoka mahali pake patakatifu; naye atapiga kelele kama wale wakanyagao zabibu dhidi ya wote wanaoishi duniani.
Now tell them all those things that I have said, and also say this to them: ‘Yahweh will [shout to them] from his holy dwelling [in heaven] [MTY] and [it will sound like] the roar of a lion. He will shout like [SIM] people shout when they are treading on grapes [to make juice for wine]; he will shout to everyone on the earth.
31 Kelele huja mpaka mwisho wa nchi, kwa sababu mgogoro kutoka kwa Bwana utaleta mashtaka dhidi ya mataifa. Ataleta haki kwa wote wenye mwili. Yeye atawatia waovu katika upanga-hili ndi'o tamko la Bwana.'
Even people in very remote places around the earth will hear him shouting, because he will say why he will judge and punish all the nations. He will cause the wicked people to be slaughtered with swords. [That will surely happen because] Yahweh has said it.’
32 Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, 'Tazameni, taabu itatokea toka kwa taifa hadi taifa, na dhoruba kubwa itatokea toka pande za mwisho za dunia.
Then tell them that this is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: ‘Listen to this! There will be disasters in one nation after another. [I am preparing to punish them like] [MET] a great storm that starts in the most distant places on the earth.
33 Kisha wale waliouawa na Bwana watakuja kutoka upande mmoja wa dunia hadi mwingine; hawataomboleza, kukusanyika, au kuzikwa. Watakuwa kama samadi chini.
When that happens, [the corpses of] those whom I have [caused to be] slaughtered will fill the earth from the east to the west. And no one will mourn for them, and no one will gather their corpses to bury them. They will be [scattered] on the ground like manure.
34 Pigeni Yowe, wachungaji, na pigeni kelele ya kuomba msaada! Gaagaa katika ardhi, enyi mlio hodari katika kundi. Kwa kuwa siku yako ya kuuawa na kutawanywa imekuja. Utaanguka kama kondoo waliochaguliwa.
You [evil] leaders, weep and moan! You who should take care of my people, [fall down and] roll in the dust/dirt. It is time for you to be slaughtered; you will fall down and be shattered like a fragile vase [shatters when it falls to the ground].
35 Wachungaji hawatakuwa na pa kukimbilia. Hakuna kutoroka kwa watu walio hodari katika kundi.
You will not find any place to hide, there will be no place to which you can escape.
36 Kuna mlio wa wasiwasi wa wachungaji na milio ya kulalama kwa watu walio hodari katika kundi, kwa kuwa Yahweh anayaharibu malisho yao.
[People will] listen to your leaders crying when [I], Yahweh, am ruining your nation.
37 Kwa hiyo, malisho ya amani yataharibiwa kwa sababu ya hasira ya Bwana.
Your peaceful meadows will become a wasteland/desert because I will be extremely angry.
38 Kama simba, ameacha shimo lake, kwa kuwa ardhi yao itakuwa kitu cha kushangaza kwa sababu ya hasira ya muonevu, kwa sababu ya ghadhabu yake kali'”
I will leave [my dwelling like] [SIM] a lion leaves its den [to attack other animals], and I will cause your land to become desolate when I, because I am very angry [with you], cause [your enemies to slaughter you with their] swords.’”