Yeremia 6
1 Tafuteni mahali salama, enyi watu wa Benjamini, kwa kuondoka Yerusalemu. Pigeni tarumbeta zaTekoa. Simamisheni ishara juu ya Beth- Hakeremu, kwa uovu unaonekana ukitokea kaskazinni; pigo kubwa linakuja.
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.
2 Binti za Sayuni, warembo na mwororo, wataangamizwa.
Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.
3 Wachungaji na kondoo wao watawaendea; wataweka hema zao zikiwazunguka pande zote; kila mtu atachunga kwa mkono wake.
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:
4 Jitakaseni wenyewe kwa miungu kwa ajili ya vita. Twendeni tukamvamie wakati wa adhuhuri. Ni vibaya sana kwamba mchana unatoweka na vivuli vya jioni vinakuja.
‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.
5 Lakini tumvamieni usiku na na tuharibu ngome zake.
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
6 Kwa kuwa BWANA wa majeshi asema hivi: Kateni miti yake, na tengenezeni vifusi vya kuitekea Yerualemu. Huu ndio mji sahihi kuuteka, Kwa sababu umejaa ukandamizaji.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
7 Kama vile kisima kitoavyo maji, vivyo hivyo mji huu uzaavyo uovu. Uaribifu na jeuri vimesikika kwake. Mateso na tauni viko mbele yangu daima.
As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.
8 Uadhibiswhe, ee Yerusalemu, vingenevyo nitaondoka kwako na kukufanya ukiwa, na nchi isiyokaliwa na watu.
Be forewarned, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitant.”
9 BWANA wa majeshi asema hivi, “Hakika wataokota mabaki ya Isreli waliobaki kama zabibu. Nyosha mkono wako ili uchume zabibu.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.”
10 Nitamwambia nani na kumwonya nani ili wasikilize? Tazama! Masikio yao hayakutahariwa; hayawezi kutilia manani! Tazama! Neno la BWANA limekuja kuwarudi, lakini hawalitaki.”
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
11 Lakini nimejazwa na hasira za BWANA. Nimechoka kuizuia. Aliniambia, “Imwage mbele ya watoto mitaani na katika makundi ya vijana. Kwa kuwa kila mume atachukuliwa pamoja na mke wake; na kila mzee mwenye miaka mingi.
But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.
12 Nyumba zao watapewa watu wengine, kwa kuwa nitawavamia wakazi wa nchi kwa mkono wangu - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,”
13 BWANA amesema hayo kutoka kwa mdogo hadi kwa mkubwa, kila mmoja anatamani mapato ya udanganyifu. Kuanzia kuhani hadi nabii, Kila mmoja anafanya hila.
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
14 Lakini wameponya vidonda vya watu wangu kwa juu juu tu. Wanasema, 'Amani! Amani! na kumbe amani haipo.
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.
15 Je, waliona aibu walipofanya machukizo? Hasha, hawakuona aibu! Hawakuwa na aibu. Kwa hiyo wataanguka pamoj na wale watakaoanguka wakati nitakpowaadhibu. Wataangushwa chini,” asema BWANA.
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,”
16 BWANA asema hivi, `Simama kwenye njia panda utazame; uliza nzile njia za zamani, 'Je, hii tabia njema iko wapi?' Kisha endelea nayo na tafuta mahali pa kupumzika. Lakini watu wanasema, 'Hatutaenda.'
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
17 Niliweka walinzi juu yenu ili wasikilize tarumbeta. Lakini walisema, 'Hatutasikiliza.'
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
18 Kwa hiyo, sikilizeni, enyi mataifa! Tazameni, enyi mashahidi, muone kile kitakachowapata.
Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them.
19 Sikia, wewe dunia! Tazama, niko tayari kuleta janga kwa watu hawa - matunda ya fikra zao. Hawakusikiliza neno langu wala sheria zangu, badala yake walizikataa.
Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
20 Huu ubani kutoka sheba unaopanda una maana gani kwangu? Au huu uudi kutoka nchi ya mbali? Sadaka zenu za kuteketezwa hazikubaliki kwangu wala dhabihu zenu.
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
21 Kwa hiyo BWANA asema hivi, 'Tazama, 'Niko tayari kuweka kikwazo dhidi ya watu hawa. Watajikwaa juu yake - baba na watoto wao kwa pamoja watajikwaa. Wakazi na jirani zao pia watapotea.'
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”
22 BWANA asema hivi, 'Tazama watu wanakuja toka nchi ya kaskazini. Kwa kuwa taifa kubwa limechochewa kutoka nchi ya mbali.
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
23 Watachukua pinde na mishale yao. Ni wakatili na hawana huruma. Sauti yao ni kama muungurumo wa bahari, na wapanda farasi katika mfumo wa wanaume wa vita, enyi binti wa Sayuni,”'
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”
24 Tumesikia habai zao. Mikono yetu inalegea kwa dhiki. Na maumivu yametukamata kama utungu wa mwanamke anayezaa.
We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 Usiende nje mashambani, na usitembee barabarani, kwa kuwa upanga wa adui na hofu vimekaribia.
Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
26 Binti za watu wangu, jivikeni magunia na kugaagaa kwenye majivu ya maombolezo ya mwana pekee. Ombolezeni kwa huzuni kuu, kwa kuwa anayewaangamiza anakuja kwetu ghafula juu yetu.
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
27 “Nimekufanya wewe, Yeremia, kuwajaribu watu wangu kama mtu anayepima fedha, kwa hiyo utachunguza na kupima njia zao.
“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
28 Wao ni watu wasumbufu miongoni mwa watu, wanaoenda huko na kule wakisingizia wengine. Wote ni shaba na chuma, wakitenda kwa dhuluma.
All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
29 Mifuo inafukuta kwa moto unaoziunguza; risasi inaunguzwa na moto. Risasi tu ndiyo inayotoka kati yake, lakini haifai kitu kwa sababu uovu haujaondolewa.
The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
30 Wataitwa taka za fedha, kwa sababu BWANA amewakataa.
They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”
