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.

Find safety, people of Benjamin, by leaving Jerusalem. Blow a trumpet in Tekoa. Raise up over Beth Hakkerem a signal, since wickedness is appearing from the north; a great crushing is coming.

2 Binti za Sayuni, warembo na mwororo, wataangamizwa.

The daughter of Zion, the beautiful and delicate woman, will be destroyed.

3 Wachungaji na kondoo wao watawaendea; wataweka hema zao zikiwazunguka pande zote; kila mtu atachunga kwa mkono wake.

The shepherds and their flocks will go to them; they will set up tents against her all around; each man will shepherd with his own hand.

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.

“Dedicate yourselves to the gods for the battle. Arise, let us attack at noon. It is too bad that the daylight is fading away, that the evening shadows are falling.

5 Lakini tumvamieni usiku na na tuharibu ngome zake.

But let us attack at 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 Yahweh of hosts says this: Cut her trees, and heap up siegeworks against Jerusalem. This is the right city to attack, because it is filled with oppression.

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 pours out fresh water, so this city keeps producing wickedness. Violence and disorder are heard within her; sickness and wounds are continually before my face.

8 Uadhibiswhe, ee Yerusalemu, vingenevyo nitaondoka kwako na kukufanya ukiwa, na nchi isiyokaliwa na watu.

Accept discipline, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make you into a ruin, an uninhabited land.'”

9 BWANA wa majeshi asema hivi, “Hakika wataokota mabaki ya Isreli waliobaki kama zabibu. Nyosha mkono wako ili uchume zabibu.

Yahweh of hosts says this, “They will certainly glean those who are left in Israel like a vineyard. Reach out again with your hand to pick grapes from the vines.

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 should I declare and warn so they will listen? Look! Their ears are uncircumcised; they are not able to pay attention! Look! The word of Yahweh has come to them to correct them, but they do not want 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 filled with Yahweh's fury. I am tired of holding it in. He said, to me, “Pour it out on the children in the streets and on the groups of young men. For every man will be taken away with his wife; and every old person heavy with years.

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, both their fields and their wives together. For I will attack the inhabitants of the land with my hand—this is Yahweh's declaration.

13 BWANA amesema hayo kutoka kwa mdogo hadi kwa mkubwa, kila mmoja anatamani mapato ya udanganyifu. Kuanzia kuhani hadi nabii, Kila mmoja anafanya hila.

Yahweh declares that from the least to the greatest, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. From the prophet to the priest, all of them practice deceit.

14 Lakini wameponya vidonda vya watu wangu kwa juu juu tu. Wanasema, 'Amani! Amani! na kumbe amani haipo.

They have healed the wounds of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, Peace,' when there is no peace.

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.

Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations? They were not ashamed; they did not know how to blush! So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says Yahweh.

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.'

Yahweh says this, “Stand at the road crossing and look; ask for the ancient pathways. 'Where is this good way?' Then go on it and find a resting place for yourselves. But the people say, 'We will not go.'

17 Niliweka walinzi juu yenu ili wasikilize tarumbeta. Lakini walisema, 'Hatutasikiliza.'

I appointed for you watchmen to listen for the trumpet. But they said, 'We will not listen.'

18 Kwa hiyo, sikilizeni, enyi mataifa! Tazameni, enyi mashahidi, muone kile kitakachowapata.

Therefore, nations, listen! See, you witnesses, 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, earth! See, I am about to bring disaster to this people—the fruit of their thoughts. They paid no attention to my word or law, but they instead rejected it.”

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 does this frankincense going up from Sheba mean to me? Or these sweet smells from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me, nor are your sacrifices.

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.'

So Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to place a stumbling block against this people. They will stumble over it—fathers and sons together. Inhabitants and their neighbors will also perish.'

22 BWANA asema hivi, 'Tazama watu wanakuja toka nchi ya kaskazini. Kwa kuwa taifa kubwa limechochewa kutoka nchi ya mbali.

Yahweh says this, 'See, a people is coming from the land of the north, a great nation is being stirred up from the farthest parts 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 will pick up bows and spears. They are cruel and have no compassion. Their sound is like the sea roar, and they are riding on horses, set out in order as men for battle, against you, daughter of Zion.'”

24 Tumesikia habai zao. Mikono yetu inalegea kwa dhiki. Na maumivu yametukamata kama utungu wa mwanamke anayezaa.

We have heard the reports about them and our hands fall limp in distress. Anguish seizes us as a woman giving birth.

25 Usiende nje mashambani, na usitembee barabarani, kwa kuwa upanga wa adui na hofu vimekaribia.

Do not go out to the fields, and do not walk on the roads, for the swords of the enemy and terror are all around.

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.

Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; mourn with painful sobs as for an only son, for the destroyer will suddenly come upon us.

27 “Nimekufanya wewe, Yeremia, kuwajaribu watu wangu kama mtu anayepima fedha, kwa hiyo utachunguza na kupima njia zao.

“I have made you, Jeremiah, one who tests my people like one would test metal, so you will inspect and test their ways.

28 Wao ni watu wasumbufu miongoni mwa watu, wanaoenda huko na kule wakisingizia wengine. Wote ni shaba na chuma, wakitenda kwa dhuluma.

They are all the most stubborn of people, who go about slandering others. All of them are bronze and iron, acting corruptly.

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 are scorched by the fire that is burning them; the lead is consumed in the flames. The refining continues among them, but it is useless, because the evil is not removed.

30 Wataitwa taka za fedha, kwa sababu BWANA amewakataa.

They will be called rejected silver, for Yahweh has rejected them.”