< Yeremia 37 >
1 Sasa Sedekia mwana wa Yosia alitawala kama mfalme badala ya Yehoyachin mwana wa Yehoyakimu. Nebukadreza mfalme wa Babeli alikuwa amemfanya Sedekia mfalme juu ya nchi ya Yuda.
THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAS FROM THE LORD, SAYING,
2 Lakini Sedekia, wajakazi wake, na watu wa nchi hawakusikiliza maneno ya Yahwe ambayo alitangaza kwa mkono wa Yeremia nabii.
Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write all the words which I have spoken to thee in a book.
3 Kwa hiyo Mfalme Sedekia, Yehukali mwana wa Shelemia, na Zefania mwana wa Maaseia kuhani alituma ujumbe kwa Yeremia nabii. Walisema, “Omba kwa niaba kwa Yahwe Mungu wetu.”
For, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, said the Lord: and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall be lords of it.
4 Sasa Yeremia alikuwa anakuja na kwenda miongoni mwa watu, kwa kuwa alikuwa bado hajawekwa ndani ya gereza.
AND THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH THE LORD SPOKE CONCERNING ISRAEL AND JUDA;
5 Jeshi la Farao lilitoka Misri, na Wakaldayo waliozingira Yerusalem walisikia habari kuhusu wao na kuondoka Yerusalem.
Thus said the Lord: Ye shall hear a sound of fear, [there is] fear, and there is not peace.
6 Kisha neno la Yahwe lilikuja kwa Yeremia nabii na kusema,
Enquire, and see if a male has born a child? and [ask] concerning the fear, wherein they shall hold their loins, and [look for] safety: for I have seen every man, and his hands are on his loins; [their] faces are turned to paleness.
7 “Yahwe, Mungu wa Israel, asema hivi: Hiki ndivyo utakavyosema kwa mfalme wa Yuda, kwa sababu amekutuma wewe kutafuta ushauri toka kwangu, 'Ona, jeshi la Farao, ambalo lilikuja kukusaidia, liko tayari kurudi Misri, kwenye nchi yao.
For that day is great, and there is not such [another]; and it is a time of straitness to Jacob; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 Wakaldayo watarudi. Watapigana dhidi ya mji huu, kuuteka, na kuuchoma.'
In that day, said the Lord, I will break the yoke off their neck, and will burst their bonds, and they shall no longer serve strangers:
9 Yahwe asema hivi: Msidaganyane kwa kusema, “Hakika Wakaldayo wanatuacha sisi,' kwa kuwa hawatatuacha.
but they shall serve the Lord their God; and I will raise up to them David their king.
10 Hata kama mmelishinda jeshi la Wakaldayo lote ambalo linapigana nanyi ili kwamba wanaume waliojeruhiwa walibakizwa katika mahema yao, wangeweza kunyanyuka na kuchoma mji huu.”
11 Basi ilikuwa wakati jeshi la Wakaldayo lilipoondoka Yerusalem wakati jeshi la Farao lilikuwa linakuja,
12 kisha Yeremia alienda toka Yerusalem kwenda nchi ya Benjamini. Alitaka kumiliki njia ya nchi huko miongoni mwa watu wake.
Thus saith the Lord; I have brought on [thee] destruction; thy stroke is painful.
13 Kama alivyokuwa katika mlango wa Benjamini, mlinzi mkuu aliyekuwa hapo. Jina lake lilikuwa Yeria mwana wa Shelemia mwana wa Hanania. Alimshika kwa kumnyakua Yeremia nabii na kusema, “Mnatoka jangwani kwa Wakaldayo.”
There is none to judge thy cause: thou hast been painfully treated for healing, there is no help for thee.
14 Lakini Yeremia alisema, “Hiyo si kweli. Siendi jangwani kwa Wakaldayo.” Lakini Yeria hakumsikiliza. Alimchukua Yeremia na kumleta kwa maafisa.
All thy friends have forgotten thee; they shall not ask [about thee] at all, for I have smitten thee with he stroke of an enemy, [even] severe correction: thy sins have abounded above all thine iniquity.
15 Maafisa walikuwa wamemkasirikia Yeremia. Walimpiga na kumweka gerezani, ambayo ilikuwa nyumba ya Yonathani mwandishi, kwa kuwa waligeuza kuwa gereza.
Thy sins have abounded beyond the multitude of thine iniquities, [therefore] they have done these things to thee. Therefore all that devour thee shall be eaten, and all thine enemies shall eat all their [own] flesh.
16 Kwa hiyo Yeremia alikuwa amewekwa kwenye kifungo cha chini, ambako alikuwa huko kwa siku nyingi.
And they that spoil thee shall become a spoil, and I will give up to be plundered all that have plundered thee.
17 Kisha mfalme Sedekia alimtuma mtu mmoja aliyemleta kwenye ikulu. Kwenye nyumba yake, mfalme alimuuliza binafsi, “Kuna neno: Utatiwa kwenye mkono wa mfalme wa Babeli.”
For I will bring about thy healing, I will heal thee of thy grievous wound, saith the Lord; for thou art called Dispersed: she is your prey, for no one seeks after her.
18 Kisha Yeremia alisema kwa mfalme Sedekia, “Kwa namna gani nimekutenda dhambi, mjakazi wako, au watu hawa kwamba umeniweke mimi kwenye gereza?
Thus said the Lord; Behold, I will turn the captivity of Jacob, and will have pity upon his prisoners; and the city shall be built upon her hill, and the people shall settle after their manner.
19 Wako wapi nabii wako, wale waliotabiri kwa ajili yako na kusema mfalme wa Babeli hatakuja dhidi yako au dhidi ya nchi hii?
And there shall go forth from them singers, [even] the sound of men making merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not at all be diminished.
20 Lakini sasa sikiliza, bwana wangu mfalme! Acha ombi langu liwe mbele yako. Usinirudie mimi kwenye nyumba ya Yonathani mwandishi, au nitakufa huko.”
And their sons shall go in as before, and their testimonies shall be established before me, and I will visit them that afflict them.
21 Kwa hiyo mfalme Sedekia alitoa amri. Wajakazi wake walimwekea mipaka Yeremia katika uwanja wa walinzi. Alipewa mkate kila siku kutoka mtaa wa waokaji mkate, mpaka mkate wote mjini uliisha. Basi Yeremia alibaki kwenye uwanja walinzi.
And their mighty ones shall be over them, and their prince shall proceed of themselves; and I will gather them, and they shall return to me: for who is this that has set his heart to return to me? saith the Lord.
For the wrathful anger of the lord has gone forth, [even] a whirlwind of anger has gone forth: it shall come upon the ungodly.
The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he shall execute [it], and until he shall establish the purpose of his heart: in the latter days ye shall know these things.