Yeremia 26
1 Mwanzoni mwa utawala wake Yehoyakimu mwana wa Yosia, neno likaja kutoka kwa Yeremia, likisema,
In the beginning of the reign of king Sedekias, there came this word concerning Aelam.
2 “Yahwe anasema hivi: Simama katika uwanja wa nyumba yangu na sema kuhusu miji yote ya Yuda ambao huja kuabudu katika nyumba yangu. Tangaza maneno yote niliyokuamuru kuyasema kwao. Usipunguze neno lolote!
FOR EGYPT, AGAINST THE POWER OF PHARAO NECHAO KING OF EGYPT, who was by the river Euphrates in Charmis, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Joakim king of Juda.
3 Labda watasikiliza, kwamba kila mtu ataziacha njia zake mbaya, ili nighairi majanga ninayokusudia kuyaleta juu yao kwa sababu ya uovu wa matendo yao.
Take up arms and spears, and draw near to battle;
4 Kwa hiyo lazima useme kwao, 'Yahwe anasema hivi: Kama hamtanisikiliza ili mtembee katika sheria yangu ambayo nimeiweka mbele yenu—
and harness the horses: mount, you horsemen, and stand ready in your helmets; advance the spears, and put on your breastplates.
5 kama hamsikilizi maneno ya watumishi wangu manabii ambao naendelea kuwatuma kwenu—lakini hamjasikiliza! —
Why do they fear, and turn back? even because their mighty men shall be slain: they have utterly fled, and being hemmed in they have not rallied, says the Lord.
6 kisha nitaifanya nyumba hii kuwa kama Shilo; nitaifanya nyumba hii kuwa laana katika macho ya mataifa yote juu ya dunia.
Let not the swift flee, and let not the mighty man escape to the north: the [forces] at Euphrates are become feeble, and they have fallen.
7 Makuhani, manabii, na watu wote wakamsikia Yeremia akitangaza maneno haya katika nyumba ya Yahwe.
Who is this [that] shall come up as a river, and as rivers roll [their] waves?
8 Kwa hiyo ikatokea kwamba Yeremia alipomaliza kutangaza aliyokuwa Yahwe alimwwamuru kuyasema kwa watu wote, makuhani, manabii, na watu wote wakamsimamisha na kusema, “Hakika utakufa!
The waters of Egypt shall come up like a river: and he said, I will go up, and will cover the earth, and will destroy the dwellers in it.
9 Kwa nini umetabiri katika jina la Yahwe na kusema kwamba nyumba hii itakuwa kama Shilo na mji huu utakuwa ukiwa, pasipo wakaaji?” Kwa maana watu wote wameunda kundi dhidi ya nyumba ya Yeremia.
Mount you the horses, prepare the chariots; go forth, you warriors of the Ethiopians, and Libyans armed with shields; and mount, you Lydians, bend the bow.
10 Kisha wakuu wa Yuda wakasikia maneno haya na wakapanda kutoka nyumba ya mfalme kwenda kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe. Wakakaa katika njia ya lango katika Lango Jipya la nyumba ya Yahwe.
And that day [shall be] to the Lord our God a day of vengeance, to take vengeance on his enemies: and the sword of the Lord shall devour, and be glutted, and be drunken with their blood: for the Lord [has] a sacrifice from the land of the north at the river Euphrates.
11 Makuhani na manabii wakasema kwa wakuu wa Yuda na kwa watu wote. Wakasema, “Ni haki kwa mtu huyu kufa, kwa maana ametabiri juu ya mji huu, kama mlivyosikia kwa masikio yenu!”
Go up to Galaad, and take balm for the virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain have you multiplied your medicines; there is no help in you.
12 Kwa hiyo Yeremia akasema kwa wakuu wote na watu wote, “Yeremia amenituma kutabiri juu ya nyumb hii na mji wake, kusema maneno yote ambayo mmeyasikia.
The nations have heard your voice, and the land has been filled with your cry: for the warriors have fainted fighting one against another, [and] both are fallen together.
13 Kwa hiyo sasa, imarisheni njia zenu na matendo yenu, na sikilizeni sauti ya Yahwe Mungu wenu kwamba ataghairi kuhusu janga ambalo ametangaza dhidi yenu.
THE WORDS WHICH THE LORD SPOKE by Jeremias, concerning the coming of the king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt.
14 Mimi mwenyewe—niangalieni! —niko mikononi mwenu. Nitendeeni yaliyo mema na sahihi katika macho yenu.
Proclaim [it] at Magdol, and declare [it] at Memphis: say you, Stand up, and prepare; for the sword has devoured your yew tree.
15 Lakini kwa hakika lazima mjue kwamba kama mtaniua mimi, basi mnaiweka damu isiyo na hatia juu yenu wenyewe na juu ya mji huu na wakaaji wake, kwa maana Yahwe amenituma kweli kwenu ili nitangaze maneno yote kwa ajili ya masikio yenu.”
Therefore has Apis fled from you? your choice calf has not remained; for the Lord has utterly weakened him.
16 Kisha wakuu na watu wote wakasema kwa makuhani na manabii, “Si vyema kwa mtu huyu kufa, kwa maana ametangaza mambo haya kwetu katika jina la Yahwe Mungu wetu.”
And your multitude has fainted and fallen; and each one said to his neighbour, Let us arise, and return into our country to our people, from the Grecian sword.
17 Kisha watu kutoka wazee wa nchi wakasimama na kusema kwa kusanyiko lote la watu.
Call you the name of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, Saon esbeie moed.
18 Wakasema, “Mikaya Mmorashi alikuwa akitabiri katika siku za Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda. Alinena kwa watu wote wa Yuda na kusema, 'Yahwe wa majeshi anasema hivi: Sayuni utalimwa kama shamba, Yerusalemu utakuwa lundo la magofu, na mlima wa hekalu utakuwa kilima kilichoota vichaka.' Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda na Yunda wote walimuua?
[As] I live, says the Lord God, he shall come as Itabyrion amongst the mountains, and as Carmel that is on the sea.
19 Hakumwogopa Yahwe na kuutaka radhi uso wa Yahwe ili kwamba Yahwe angeghairi kuhusu janga ambalo alilitangaza kwao? Kwa hiyo tutafanya maovu makubwa zaidi juu ya maisha yetu sisi wenyewe?”
O daughter of Egypt dwelling [at home], prepare you stuff for removing: for Memphis shall be utterly desolate, and shall be called Woe, because there are no inhabitants in it.
20 Wakati huo huo palikuwa na mtu mwingine ambaye alitabiri katika jina la Yahwe—Uria mwan wa Shemaya kutoka Kiriath Yearimu—pia alitabiri juu ya mji na nchi hii, akikubaliana na maneno yote ya Yeremia.
Egypt is a fair heifer, [but] destruction from the north is come upon her.
21 Lakini Mfalme Yohoyakimu na wanajeshi wake wote na watumishi wake wote waliposikia maneno yake, kisha mfalme alijaribu kumuua, lakini Uria alisikia na kuogopa, kwa hiyo alikimbia na akaenda Misiri
Also her hired [soldiers] in the midst of her are as fatted calves fed in her; for they also have turned, and fled with one accord: they stood not, for the day of destruction was come upon them, and the time of their retribution.
22 Kisha mfalme Yehoyakimu alituma watu kwenda Misiri—Elnathani mwana wa Achbori na watu kwenda Misiri kumfuata Uria.
Their voice is as [that] of a hissing serpent, for they go upon the sand; they shall come upon Egypt with axes, as men that cut wood.
23 Wakamtoa Uria nje kutoka Misiri na kumleta kwa Mfalme Yehoyakimu. Kisha Yehoyakimu akamuua kwa upanga na kumpeleka nje kwenye makaburi ya watu wa kawaida.
They shall cut down her forest, says the Lord, for [their number] can’t at all be conjectured, for it exceeds the locust in multitude, and they are innumerable.
24 Lakini mkno wa Ahikamu mwana wa Shapni alikuwa pamoja na Yeremia, hivyo hakutiwa mikonono mwa watu ili auawe.
The daughter of Egypt is confounded; she is delivered into the hands of a people from the north.
Behold, I [will] avenge Ammon her son upon Pharao, and upon them that trust in him.
But fear not you, my servant Jacob, neither be you alarmed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be at ease, and sleep, and there shall be no one to trouble him.
Fear not you, my servant Jacob, says the Lord; for I am with you: she [that was] without fear and in luxury, has been delivered up: for I will make a full end of every nation amongst whom I have thrust you forth; but I will not cause you to fail: yet will I chastise you in the way of judgement, and will not hold you entirely guiltless.
