Yeremia 29

1 Haya ni maneno katika waraka ambao Yeremia nabii alituma kutoka Yerusalemu kwa wazee waliosalia miongoni mwa mateka na makuhuni, manabii, na watu wote ambao Nebukadreza aliwapeleka utumwani kutoka Yerusalemu hadi Babeli.

THUS SAITH THE LORD AGAINST THE PHILISTINES;

2 Hii ilikuwa baada ya Yekonia mfalme, mama yake mfalme, na watumishi wakuu, viongozi wa Yuda na Yerusalemu, na wahunzi walikuwa wamepelekwa mbali na Yerusalemu.

Behold, waters come up from the north, and shall become a sweeping torrent, and it shall sweep away the land, and its fulness; the city, and them that dwell in it: and men shall cry and all that dwell in the land shall howl,

3 Aliutuma waraka huu kwa mkono wa Elasa mwana wa Shafani, Gemaria, mwana wa Hilkia, ambaye Sedekia, mfalme wa Yuda, alikuwa amemtuma kwa Nebukadreza mfalme wa Babeli

at the sound of his rushing, at [the sound of] his hoofs, and at the rattling of his chariots, at the noise of his wheels: the fathers turned not to their children because of the weakness of their hands,

4 Waraka ulisema, Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, anasema hivi kwa mateka ambao niliwasababisha kuwa mateka kutoka Yerusalemu hadi Babeli,

in the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines: and I will utterly destroy Tyre and Sidon and all the rest of their allies: for the Lord will destroy the remaining [inhabitants] of the islands.

5 'Jengeni nyumba na muishi ndani yake. Pandeni bustani na mle matunda yake.

Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ascalon is cast away, and the remnant of the Enakim.

6 Chukueni wake na mzae wana na mabinti. Kisha Kisha chukueni wake kwa ajili ya wana wenu, na wapatieni waume binti zenu. Wazae wana na mabinti na waongezeke ili msiwe wachache sana.

How long will you strike, O sword of the Lord? how long will it be ere you are quiet? return into your sheath, rest, and be removed.

7 Itafuteni amani ya mji ambako nimewafanya kuwa watumwa, na mkauombee kwangu kwa niaba yake kwa kuwa kutakuwa na amani kwenu kama mji uko katika amani.'

How shall it be quiet, whereas the Lord has given it a commission against Ascalon, and against the regions on the sea-coast, to awake against the remaining [countries]! CONCERNING IDUMEA, thus says the Lord; There is no longer wisdom in Thaeman, counsel has perished from the wise ones, their wisdom is gone,

8 Kwa maana Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, anasema hivi, 'Msiwaache manabii ambao wako katikati yenu na wabashiri wenu kuwadanganya, na msizisikilize ndoto ambazo ninyi wenyewe mnaota.

their place has been deceived. Dig deep for a dwelling, you that inhabit Daedam, for he has wrought grievously: I brought trouble upon him in the time at which I visited him.

9 Kwa maana wanatabiri uongo kwenu katika jina langu. Mimi sikuwatuma—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe.'

For grape gatherers are come, who shall not leave you a remnant; as thieves by night, they shall lay their hand upon [your possessions].

10 Kwa maana Yahwe anasema hivi, 'Babeli atakapokuwa amewatawala kwa muda wa mika sabini, nitawasaidia ninyi na kulitimiza neno langu jema kwa ajili yenu ili kuwarudisha ninyi katika sehemu hii.

For I have stripped Esau, I have uncovered their secret places; they shall have no power to hide themselves, they have perished [each] by the hand of his brother, my neighbour, and it is impossible

11 Kwa maana mimi mwenyewe naijua mipangao niliyonayo kwa ajili yenu—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe—mipango kwa ajili ya amani na siyo kwa ajili ya mabaya, ili kuwapa ninyi tumaini na siku zenu za mwisho.

for your fatherless one to be left to live, but I shall live, and the widows trust in me.

12 Kisha mtaniita, na kwenda na kuniomba mimi, na nitawasikiliza.

For thus says the Lord; They who were not appointed to drink the cup have drunk [it]; and you shall by no means be cleared:

13 Kwa maana mtanitafuta na kunipata, kwa kuwa mtanitafuta kwa moyo wenu wote.

for by myself I have sworn, says the Lord, that you shall be in the midst of her an impassable [land], and a reproach, and a curse; and all her cities shall be desert for ever.

14 Kisha nitapatikana kwenu—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe—na nitawarudisha watu wenu waliofungwa; nitawakusanya kutoka mataifa yote na sehehemu zote ambako nimewatawanya—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe—kwa maana nitawarudisha kutoka sehemu ambako niliwasababisha kuwa mateka.

I have heard a report from the Lord, and he has sent messengers to the nations, [saying, ]Assemble yourselves, and come against her; rise you up to war.

15 Tangu mliposema kwamba Yahwe ameinua manabii kwa ajili yetu katika Babeli,

I have made you small amongst the nations, utterly contemptible amongst men.

16 Yahwe anasema hivi kwa mfalme aliyeketi katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi na watu wote wakaao katika mji huo, ndugu zenu ambao hawakwenda pamoja nanyi utumwani—

Your insolence has risen up against you, the fierceness of your heart has burst the holes of the rocks, it has seized upon the strength of a lofty hill; for as an eagle he set his nest on high: thence will I bring you down.

17 Yahwe wa majeshi anasema hivi, ''Ona, niko karibu kutuma upanga, njaa, na ugonjwa juu yao. Kwa maana nitawafanya kuwa kama tini mbovu ambazo ni mbaya sana hazifai kuliwa.

And Idumea shall be a desert: every one that passes by shall hiss at it.

18 Kisha nitawafuata kwa upanga, njaa, na tauni na kuwafanya kuwa kitu cha kushangaza kwa falme zote juu ya dunia—kitu cha kuogofya, kitu cha kulaaniwa na kuzomewa, na kitu cha aibu miongoni mwa mataifa yote ambako nilimtawanya.

As Sodom was overthrown and Gomorrha and they that sojourned in her, says the Lord Almighty, no man shall dwell there, nor shall any son of man inhabit there.

19 Hii ni kwa sababu hawakulisikiliza neno langu—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe—ambalo nililituma kwao kupitia watumishi wangu manabii. Niliwatuma tena na tena, lakini hamkusikiliza—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe. '

Behold, he shall come up as a lion out of the midst of Jordan to the place of Aetham: for I will speedily drive them from it, and do you set the young men against her: for who is like me? and who will withstand me? and who [is] this shepherd, who shall confront me?

20 Kwa hiyo ninyi wenyewe sikilizeni neno la Yahwe, ninyi mateka wote ambao amewatuma kutoka Yerusalemu hadi Babeli,

Therefore hear you the counsel of the Lord, which he has framed against Idumea; and his device, which he has devised against the inhabitants of Thaeman: surely the least of the sheep shall be swept off; surely their dwelling shall be made desolate for them.

21 'Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, anasema hivi kuhusu Ahabu mwana wa Kolaya na Sedekia mwana wa Maaseya, watabirio uongo kwenu katika jina langu: Ona, niko karibu kuwaweka katika mkono wa Nebukadreza mfalme wa Babeli. Atawaua mbele ya macho yenu.

For at the sound of their fall the earth was scared, and the cry of the sea was not heard.

22 Kisha laana itatamkwa na wafungwa wote wa Yuda katika Babeli kuhusu watu hawa. Laana itasema: Yahwe awafanye kuwa kama Sedekia na Ahabu, ambao mfalme wa Babeli aliwaoka kwenye moto.

Behold, he shall look [upon her] as an eagle, and spread forth [his] wings over her strongholds; and the heart of the mighty men of Idumea shall be in that day as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

23 Hili litatokea kwa sababu ya mambo ya aibu waliyofanya katika Israeli walipofanya uzinzi na wake za majarani zao na kutangaza maneno ya uongo katika jina langu, mambo ambayo sikuwaamuru wayaseme. Kwa maana mimi ndiye nijuaye; mimi ni shahidi—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe.”'

24 Kuhusu Shemaya Mnehelami, sema hivi:

25 'Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, anasema hivi: Kwa sababu ulituma barua kwa jina lako kwa watu wote katika Yerusalemu, kwa Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kuhani, na kwa makuhani wote, na ulisema,

26 “Yahwe aliwafanya ninyi kuwa makuhani badala ya Yehoyada kuhani, ili muwe wasimamizi wa nyumba ya Yahwe. Ninyi ni viongozi wa watu wote wajitiao wazimu na kujifanya wenyewe manabii. Mtawaweka katika mkatale na minyororo.

27 Kwa hiyo sasa, kwa nini hamkumkemea Yeremia wa Anathothi, ambaye hujifanya mwenyewe nabii juu yenu?

28 Kwa maana ametutumia sisi katika Babeli, 'Itakuwa muda mrefu. Jengeni nyumba na muishi ndani yake, na pandeni busitani na mule matunda yake.””

29 Sefania kuhani akaisoma barua hii mbele ya Yeremia nabii.

30 Kisha neno la Yahwe likaja kwa Yeremia, likisema,

31 “tuma neno kwa mateka wote na sema, 'Yahwe anasema hivi kuhusu Shemaya Mnehelami: Kwa sababu Shemaya amewatabiria ninyi wakati mimi sikumtuma, na amewaongoza kuamini uongo,

32 kwa hiyo Yahwe anasema hivi: Angalia, niko karibu kumwadhibu Shemaya Mnehelami na uzao wake. Hapatakuwa na mtu wa kukaa miongoni mwa watu hawa kwa ajili yake. Hataona mema nitakayofanya kwa ajili ya watu wangu—hili ni tangazo la Yahwe—kwa maana ametangaza uasi dhidi ya Yahwe.””