Yeremia 2
1 Neno la BWANA lilinijia likisema,
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 “Nenda ukanene katika masikio ya Yerusalemu. Useme; BWANA asema hivi: Ninakumbuka agano la uaminifu la ujana wako, upendo wako wakati tulipokuwa tumechumbiana, ulipokuwa ukinihitaji kule jangwani, katika ile nchi iliyokuwa haijapandwa.
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israeli alikuwa ametengwa kwa BWANA, malimbuko yake ya mavuno yake! Wote waliokula malimbuko yake walikuwa na hatia! majanga yaliwajia—asema BWANA.'”
Israel was holiness to the LORD, and the first fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come on them, says the LORD.
4 Sikilizeni neno la BWANA, enyi nyumba ya Yakobo na kila familia katika nyumba ya Israeli.
Hear you the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 BWANA anasema hivi, “Ni makosa gani ambayo baba zenu waliyaona kwangu, hata wakatae kunifuata mimi? hata wazifuate sanamu ambazo hazina chochote na wao kuwa si kitu?
Thus says the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6 Wala hawakusema, BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alitutoa katika nchi ya Misri? BWANA yuko wapi, ambaye alituongoza katika jangwa, katika nchi ya Araba na mashimo, katika nchi ya ukame na giza nene, katika nchi ambayo hakuna mtu apitaye wala hakuna mtu anayeishi humo?
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelled?
7 Lakini nilwaleta katika nchi ya Kameli, ili mle matunda yake na vitu vingine vyema! Lakini mlipokuja, mliitia unajisi nchi yangu, mliufany urithi wangu kuwa chukizo!
And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 Hata makuhani hawakusema, 'BWANA yuko wapi?' na watalamu wa sheria hawakunijali mimi! wachungaji wametenda dhambi dhidi yangu. Manabii wamemtolea Baali unabii na kuvitafuta vitu ambvyo havina faida.
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Kwa hiyo nitaendelea kuwashitaki - hili ni neno la BWANA - na nitawashitiki watoto wa watoto wenu.
Why I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
10 Kwa kuvuka kwenda hadi pwani ya Kitimu na kutazama. Tuma wajumbe kwenda Kedari na tafuta uone kama kama iliwahi kutokea hapo awali vitu kama hivi.
For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Je, taifa limebadilisha miungu, hata kama haikuwa miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa kitu ambacho hakiwezi kuwasaidia.
Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12 Sitajabuni, enyi mbingu kwa sababu ya hili! Tetemekeni na kuogopa -asema BWANA.
Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says the LORD.
13 Kwa kuwa watu wangu wametenda maovu mawili dhidi yangu: Wameziacha chemichemi za maji ya uhai kwa kuchimba mabarika kwa ajili yao, mabarika yanayovuja yasiyoweza kutunza maji!
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 Je, Israeli ni mtumwa? Kwani hakuzaliwa nyumbani? Kwa nini sasa amekuwa nyara?
Is Israel a servant? is he a home born slave? why is he spoiled?
15 Wanasimba wameunguruma dhidi yake. Wamepiga kelele sana na kuifanya kuwa ukiwa. Miji yake imeharibiwa na kubaki bila watu.
The young lions roared on him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Pia watu wa Nufu na Tahapanesi watakinyoa kichwa chako.
Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of your head.
17 Je, hamkufanya haya kwa ajili yenu mlipomwacha BWANA, wakati Mungu wenu, alipokuwa akiwaongoza njiani?
Have you not procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
18 Kwa hiyo, kwa nini kutafuta msaada Misri na kunywa maji ya Shihori? Kwa nini kutafuta msaada Ashuru na kunywa maji ya Mto Frati?
And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 Uovu wako unakukemea, na maasi yako yatakuadhibu. Kwa hiyo yafikiri hayo; tambua kuwa ni uovu na uchungu kwenu ninyi kuniacha mimi, BWANA Mungu wako, na kutokuwa na hofu yangu - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backslidings shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 Kwa kuwa niliivunja nira yenu mliyokuwa nayo wakati wa kale; Nilivichana vifungo vyako kutoka kwako. Lakini bado ulisema, 'Sitamtumikia!' tangu ulipopiga magoti katika kila kilima kuusogelea kila mti wenye majani mabichhi, enyi makahaba.
For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, I will not transgress; when on every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot.
21 Lakini mimi mwenyewe niliwapanda kama mzabibu niliouchagua, mbegu iliyokamilika. Lakini tazama jinsi ulivyobadilika mbele yangu, na kuwa mzabibu usiofaa na mzabibu pori!
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?
22 Kwa kuwa hata kama utajisafisha mwenyewe mtoni na kuoga kwa sabuni kali, bado dhambi yako ni madoa mbele yangu - asema BWANA Mungu.
For though you wash you with nitre, and take you much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord GOD.
23 Wawezaje kusema, 'Mimi sijanajisika! Mimi sjaenda kwa Mabaal?' Tazama tabia zako zilivyokuwa bondeni! Tambua kile ulichofanya, wewe ngamia mwepesi! akimbiaye katika njia yake!
How can you say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see your way in the valley, know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24 Wewe ni punda wa mwitu, aliyeizoelea nyika, avutaye pumzi za upepo usiofaa katika tamaa ya kuishi! Ni nani awezaye kumgeuza anapotafuta dume la kumpanda? Na punda dume amtafutaye hajichoshi mwenyewe. Huenda kwake wakati wa mwezi wa kupandwa.
A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Lazima uizuie miguu yako isikose kiatu na koo lako kuwa na kiu! Lakini umesema, 'Hakuna matumaini! Hapana! Nawapenda wageni nami huwatafuta!'
Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you said, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26 Kama aibu ya mwizi ilivyo anapokuwa amekamatwa, ndivyo aibu ya Israeli itakavyokuwa - wao, wafalme wao, malikia wao, makuhani na manabii wao!
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.
27 Hawa ndio wale waiambiayo miti, 'Ninyi ndio baba zangu,' na mawe, 'Ninyi ndio mlinizaa.' Kwa kuwa migongo yao hunitazama na siyo nyuso zao. Hata hivyo, wakati wa shida husema, 'Amka utuokoe!'
Saying to a stock, You are my father; and to a stone, You have brought me forth: for they have turned their back to me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
28 Lakini iko wapi ile miungu mliyojitengenezea? Acha hao wainuke kama wanaweza kuwaokoa wakati wa shida, kwa kuwa hizo sanamu zenu zina idadi sawa na miji yenu, katika Yuda.
But where are your gods that you have made you? let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.
29 Kwa hiyo kwa nini kunituhumu kwa kufanya makosa? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi - asema BWANA wa majeshi.
Why will you plead with me? you all have transgressed against me, says the LORD.
30 Nimewadhibu watu wenu bure. Wala hawakutaka kurudiwa. Upanga wako umewaangamiza manabii wenu kama kama simba aangamizaye!
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 Enyi watu wa kizazi hiki! Sikilizeni neno langu, neno la BWANA! Je, nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli? Au nchi yenye giza nene? Kwa nini watu wangu husema, 'Acha tuzungukezunguke, hatutakuja kwako tena'?
O generation, see you the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? a land of darkness? why say my people, We are lords; we will come no more to you?
32 Je, mwanamwali anaweza kusahau mapambo yake, na bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wngu wamenisahau mimi kwa siku nyingi!
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 Jinsi mlivyotengeneza njia zenu vizuri ili kutafuta mapenzi. Hata mmewafundisha njia zenu wanawake waovu.
Why trim you your way to seek love? therefore have you also taught the wicked ones your ways.
34 Damu ambayo ilikuwa ndio uhai wa watu wasio na hatia, imeonekana katika mavazi yenu. Hawa watu hawajawahi kuonekana katika matendo maovu.
Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but on all these.
35 Pamoja na mambo haya yote, wewe unaeendelea kusema kuwa hauna hatia. Kwa hakika hasira ya BWANA itageuka kutoka kwangu. 'Lakini tazama! Utahukumiwa kwa sababu, 'Sikutenda dhambi.'
Yet you say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, I have not sinned.
36 Kwa nini mnatangatanga kwa urahisi katika njia zenu? Pia Misri itawahuzunisha sana, kama ilivyokuwa kwa Ashuru.
Why gad you about so much to change your way? you also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 Mtaondoka hapo mkiwa mmehuzunika sana, mkiwa mmeweka mikono vichwani mwenu, kwa kuwa BWANA amemkutaa yule mliyemtumainia, kwa hiyo hamtapata msaada toka kwao,”
Yes, you shall go forth from him, and your hands on your head: for the LORD has rejected your confidences, and you shall not prosper in them.
