Selemaia 6
1 “ʻAe fānau ʻa Penisimani mou fakataha ʻakimoutolu pea hola atu mei Selūsalema, pea ifi ʻae meʻalea ʻi Tikoa, pea fokotuʻu ʻae fakaʻilonga afi ʻi Pete-Hakilime; he ʻoku hā mai ʻae kovi mei he tokelau, pea mo e fakaʻauha lahi.
“You people in Jerusalem who are from [the tribe of] Benjamin, flee from this city! Blow the trumpets in Tekoa [city south of Jerusalem]! Send up a [smoke] signal in Beth-Haccherem [town] [to warn the people of the coming danger]! A powerful [army] will come from the north, and they will cause great destruction.
2 Kuo u fakatatau ʻae ʻofefine ʻo Saione ki he fefine hoihoifua mo angalelei.
Jerusalem is [like] a beautiful pasture [full of sheep], but it will soon be destroyed.
3 ʻE haʻu kiate ia ʻae kau tauhi mo ʻenau fanga sipi; pea te nau fokotuʻu honau ngaahi fale fehikitaki ʻo takatakai kiate ia; pea te nau taki taha kai ʻi hono potu ʻoʻona.
[Enemy kings, not] shepherds [MET], will come [with their armies] and set up their tents around the city, and each [king will choose a part of the city for his soldiers to destroy like] [MET] shepherds divide their pastures for their flocks of sheep.
4 “Mou teuteu kiate ia; tuʻu hake pea ke tau ʻalu hake ʻi he hoʻatāmālie. ʻOiauē ʻakitautolu! He kuo ʻalu ʻae ʻaho, pea kuo mafola atu ʻae malumalu ʻoe efiafi.
[The kings will tell their troops], “Get ready for the battle. We should attack them before noontime. But [if we arrive there late in the afternoon] when the shadows are becoming long,
5 Tuʻu hake, pea tau ʻalu atu ʻi he poʻuli, pea fakaʻauha hono ngaahi fale fakaʻeiʻeiki.”
we will attack them at night and tear down their fortresses.”
6 He ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “Tā hifo hono ngaahi ʻakau, pea fai ha tanu puke ki Selūsalema; ko e kolo eni ke kapa; kuo pito ia ʻi loto ʻi he fakamālohi.
Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, says this: “[I will command those soldiers to] cut down the trees [outside Jerusalem] and to build dirt ramps up to the top of the city walls [in order that they can enter the city]. This city must be punished because everyone there continually oppresses others.
7 ʻO hangē ʻoku puna ʻae vai mei he matavai, ʻoku pehē ʻae hā mai ʻae angahala meiate ia; ʻoku ongoʻi ʻiate ia ʻae fakamālohi pea mo e maumauʻi; ʻoku ʻi hoku ʻao maʻuaipē ʻae mamahi mo e ngaahi lavea.
[It is as though] the wicked things that the people do pour out of the city like [SIM] water flows out of a spring. [The noise from people doing] violent and destructive actions is heard everywhere. I continually see [people who are] suffering and wounded.
8 ʻE Selūsalema, ke akonekina koe, telia naʻa ʻalu ʻiate koe ʻa hoku laumālie; telia naʻa ngaohi koe ke tala, ko e fonua taʻehanokakai.”
Listen to what I am warning you, [you people of] [APO] Jerusalem, because if you do not listen, I will reject you and cause your land to become desolate, a land where no one lives.”
9 ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “Te nau tānaki hono toe ʻo ʻIsileli ʻo hangē ko e vaine: pea ʻe toe ai ho nima ki he ngaahi vaʻa ʻo hangē ko e tangata ʻoku toli ʻae fua ʻoe vaine.”
Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of angels in heaven, also says this: “[I will tell your enemies] to cause your country to become as desolate [SIM] as a vineyard from which all the grapes have been completely stripped from the vines. [Their soldiers will seize the possessions of] those who remain in Israel [after the others have been exiled] like [SIM] farmers go to the vines again to pick any grapes [that were (left/not picked)].”
10 Te u lea mo valoki kia hai, koeʻuhi ke nau fanongo? Vakai, kuo tāpuni honau telinga, pea ʻoku ʻikai te nau faʻa ongoʻi; vakai, ko e meʻa manuki kiate kinautolu ʻae folofola ʻa Sihova; ʻoku ʻikai te nau fiefia ki ai.
[Then I said, “If I speak to the Israeli people] to warn them, (who will listen to me?/No one will listen to me.) [RHQ] [It is as though] their ears are closed, [and as a result] they cannot hear [what I say]. They scorn Yahweh’s messages; they do not want to listen to them at all.
11 Ko ia kuo u fonu ʻi he houhau ʻo Sihova; ʻoku ou fiu ʻi he taʻofi: “Te u lilingi atu ia, ki he fānau ʻoku ʻi he hala; pea ki he fakataha ʻae kau talavou, ʻio, ʻe ʻave ʻae tangata mo hono uaifi, ʻae motuʻa pea mo ia ʻoku lahi hono ngaahi ʻaho.
So [now] I am extremely angry, like Yahweh is angry, and I cannot restrain it any longer.” [So] Yahweh said [to me], “Tell everyone that you are very angry with them. Tell the children in the streets and the young men who gather together. Tell the men and their wives; tell the very old people [DOU], also.
12 “Pea ʻe maʻu ʻe he kakai kehe honau ngaahi fale, mo e ngaahi ngoue, fakataha mo honau ngaahi uaifi: he te u mafao atu hoku nima ki he kakai ʻoe fonua, ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova.’
[Tell the men that] I will give their houses to [their enemies], and I will give their property/fields and their wives to them, also, when I punish [IDM] the people who live in this land.
13 “He ʻoku nau taki taha manumanu mei he iiki ʻo aʻu ki he lalahi; pea taki taha fai kākā mei he palōfita, ʻio, ʻo aʻu ki he taulaʻeiki.
Everyone is trying to get money by tricking others, from the most [important people] to the least [important people]; even the prophets and the priests are trying to deceive [people to get money].
14 Kuo nau fakamoʻui kākā foki ʻae lavea ʻoe ʻofefine ʻo hoku kakai, ʻonau pehē, ‘Fiemālie, fiemālie;’ ka ʻoku ʻikai ha fiemālie.
[They act as though the sins of my people are like] [MET] small wounds that they do not need to put bandages on. They continually [greet people by] saying ‘I hope things are going well with you,’ when things are not going well.
15 He naʻa nau mā ʻi heʻenau fai meʻa fakalielia? Naʻe ʻikai, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito te nau mā, pea naʻe ʻikai te nau fekulaʻi ʻi he mā; ko ia te nau hinga mo kinautolu ʻoku hinga: ʻo kau ka ʻaʻahi kiate kinautolu ʻe lī ki lalo ʻakinautolu, ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova.
They should be [RHQ] ashamed about the disgusting things that they do, but they are not ashamed at all. They do not [even] know how to (blush/show on their faces that they are ashamed). So, they also will be among those who will be killed. They will be destroyed when I punish them.”
16 ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova, “Mou tuʻu ʻi he ngaahi hala, ʻo mamata, pea fehuʻi ki he ngaahi motuʻa hala, ‘Ko e fē ʻae hala lelei?’ Pea mou ʻaʻeva ʻi ai, pea te mou ʻilo ʻae fiemālie ki homou laumālie. Ka naʻa nau pehē, ‘ʻE ʻikai te mau ʻeveʻeva ai.’
This is [also] what Yahweh said [to the Israeli people]: “Stand at the crossroads and look [at the people who pass by]. Ask them what was the good behavior [that their ancestors had] long ago. [And when they tell you], behave that way. If you do that, you will find rest for your souls.” But you replied, ‘We do not want to do that!’
17 Pea naʻaku fakanofo kiate kimoutolu foki ʻae kau tangata leʻo, ʻo pehē, ‘Fanongo ki he leʻo ʻoe meʻalea.’ Ka naʻa nau pehē, ‘ʻE ʻikai te mau fanongo.’
I sent [my prophets who were like] [MET] watchmen. They said, ‘Listen carefully when we blow the trumpets [to warn you that your enemies are approaching],’ but you said, ‘[No], we do not want to listen.’
18 “Ko ia mou fanongo, ʻae ngaahi puleʻanga, pea ʻilo ʻe he fakataha ʻoe kakai, ʻae meʻa ʻaia ʻoku ʻiate kinautolu.
Therefore, you people in the other nations, listen to this: Pay attention to what is going to happen to the [Israeli people].
19 Fanongo, ʻe māmani: vakai, te u ʻomi ʻae kovi ki he kakai ni, ko e fua ʻo ʻenau ngaahi mahalo, koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai te nau fanongo ki heʻeku ngaahi lea, pe ki heʻeku fono, ka kuo nau liʻaki ia.
Listen, all of you! I am going to cause the [Israeli] people to experience disasters. That is what will happen to them because they have refused to listen to what I told them. They have refused to obey my laws.
20 He ko e hā hono ʻaonga ke ʻomi ʻae meʻa namu kakala kiate au mei Sipa, pea mo e tō huʻamelie mei he potu mamaʻo? ʻoku ʻikai lelei kiate au homou ngaahi feilaulau tutu, pea ʻoku ʻikai huʻamelie kiate au homou ngaahi feilaulau.”
[You Israeli people], when you burn frankincense that came from [far away in] Sheba, and [when you offer to me] sweet-smelling anointing oil that came from far away, I will not [RHQ] be pleased with your sacrifices. I will not accept the sacrifices that are completely burned on the altar; I am not pleased with [any of] your sacrifices.
21 Ko ia ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova, “Vakai, te u ʻai ʻae ngaahi tūkiaʻanga ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kakai ni, pea ʻe tūkia fakataha ai ʻae ngaahi tamai pea mo e ngaahi foha; pea ʻe malaʻia ʻae kaungāʻapi mo honau kāinga.”
Therefore, I will put obstacles on the roads on which my people will travel. Men and their sons and people’s neighbors and friends will stumble over those obstacles and fall down; everyone will die.”
22 ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova, “Vakai, ʻoku haʻu ha kakai mei he fonua ʻi he tokelau, pea ʻe fakatupu ʻae kakai lahi mei he ngataʻanga ʻo māmani.
Yahweh [also] says this: “You will see a [huge] army marching [towards you] from the north. [An army of] a great nation very far away is preparing [to attack you].
23 Pea te nau ala ki he kaufana mo e hōfangahau; ʻoku nau loto fefeka, pea taʻeʻaloʻofa; ʻoku ʻuʻulu honau leʻo ʻo hangē ko e tahi; pea ʻoku nau heka ki he fanga hoosi, ʻo fakaʻotu ʻo hangē ko e kau tangata te u tau kiate koe, ʻE ʻofefine ʻo Saione.”
They have bows [and arrows] and spears; they are [very] cruel, and do not act mercifully [to anyone]. As they ride along on their horses, the horses’ feet sound like the roaring of the ocean [waves]; they are riding in battle formation to attack you people of Jerusalem.”
24 Kuo tau fanongo ki hono ongoongo: ʻoku vaivai hotau nima; kuo maʻu ʻakitautolu ʻe he mamahi, ʻo hangē ko e langā ha fefine ke fāʻele.
[The people of Jerusalem say], “We have heard reports about the enemy; [so] we are very frightened, with the result that we feel weak. We are very afraid, and worried, like [SIM] women who are about to give birth to babies.
25 ʻOua naʻa ʻalu ki he ngoue, pe ʻeveʻeva ʻi he hala; he ʻoku ʻi he potu kotoa pē ʻae heletā ʻoe fili mo e fakailifia.
[So one person says to another], ‘Do not go out into the fields! Do not go on the roads, because the enemy [soldiers] have swords [and they are everywhere]; they are coming from all directions, and we are extremely afraid.’”
26 ʻE ʻofefine ʻo hoku kakai ke ke nonoʻo ʻaki koe ʻae tauangaʻa, pea fetafokifokiaki koe ʻi he efuefu; ke ke mamahi, ʻo hangē ko e fai ki he foha pe taha, ko e tangilāulau mamahi: koeʻuhi ʻe haʻu fakafokifā pe kiate koe ʻae fakaʻauha.
[So I say], “My dear people, put on (sackcloth/rough clothes) and sit in ashes [to show that you are sorry for your sins]. Mourn and cry very much, like [SIM] [a woman would cry] if her only son had died, because your enemies are very near, and they are going to destroy [everything].”
27 “Kuo u fakanofo koe ko e ʻahiʻahi, mo e fakamaʻa ki hoku kakai, koeʻuhi ke ke ʻiloʻi mo ʻahiʻahi ki heʻenau anga.
[Then Yahweh said to me], “[Jeremiah], I have caused you to become [like] [MET] someone who heats metal very hot [to completely burn the impurities]. You will examine my people’s behavior.
28 Ko e kau angatuʻu fakamamahi ʻakinautolu kotoa pē, ko e kau lauʻi kovi: ko e palasa mo e ukamea ʻakinautolu: ko e kau fakakovi ʻakinautolu kotoa pē.
You will find out that they are very stubborn rebels, they are always slandering others. [Their inner beings] are as hard as bronze or iron; they all [continually] deceive others.
29 Kuo vela ʻae tapili, kuo vela ʻo vai ʻae pulu ʻi he afi; ʻoku fai ʻae haka taʻeʻaonga ʻe he fakamaʻa: he ʻoku ʻikai mavahevahe ʻae kovi.
[A metalworker causes] the bellows to blow very hard to [make the fire very hot to] completely burn up the impurities [MET]. [But just as] a fire does not cause all the waste material to run off, it is impossible to separate [the righteous people from the wicked people, and punish only] the wicked people.
30 ʻE ui ʻakinautolu ʻe he kakai ko e siliva kākā, koeʻuhi kuo liʻaki ʻakinautolu ʻe Sihova.”
[I], Yahweh, have rejected them; I say that they are [like] [MET] worthless silver.”
