< Jeremiah 2 >

1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
Ningĩ ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova nĩyanginyĩrire, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
“Thiĩ ũkaanĩrĩre ũkĩiguagwo nĩ andũ a Jerusalemu, ũmeere atĩrĩ: “‘Nĩndirikanaga ũrĩa weheanĩte kũrĩ niĩ rĩrĩa warĩ mwĩthĩ, na ũrĩa wanyendete rĩrĩa ndakũhikirie na ũkĩnũmĩrĩra kũu werũ-inĩ, tũgĩtuĩkanĩria kũu bũrũri ũcio ũtaahandagwo irio.
3 Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”
Isiraeli-rĩ, aatũũrĩte aamũrĩirwo Jehova, arĩ maciaro ma mbere ma magetha make; arĩa othe maamũtambuuraga maatuirwo ahĩtia, nao magĩkinyĩrĩrwo nĩ mwanangĩko,’” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
4 Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
Thikĩrĩriai mũigue ndũmĩrĩri ya Jehova, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Jakubu, inyuĩ inyuothe andũ a mĩhĩrĩga yothe ya nyũmba ya Isiraeli.
5 Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Nĩ mahĩtia marĩkũ maithe manyu maanyonire namo, atĩ nĩkĩo maandirikire, makĩndaihĩrĩria ũguo? Maarũmĩrĩire mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene, nao ene makĩaga kĩene.
6 They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who 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 one passed through, and where no man lived?’
Matiigana kũũria atĩrĩ: ‘Jehova arĩ ha, ũrĩa watũrutire bũrũri wa Misiri, agĩtũgereria werũ-inĩ ũtaarĩ kĩndũ, tũkĩgerera bũrũri warĩ wa werũ na iharũrũka, bũrũri ũtoiraga mbura, na warĩ nduma ta ya gĩkuũ, bũrũri ũtaageragĩrwo na ũtaatũũragwo nĩ mũndũ?’
7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
Nĩndamũrehire bũrũri mũnoru, nĩguo mũrĩĩage matunda maguo, na mwĩgune na indo ciakuo iria njega. No inyuĩ muokire, mũgĩthaahia bũrũri wakwa na mũgĩtũma igai rĩakwa rĩthũũrwo mũno.
8 The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
Athĩnjĩri-Ngai matiigana kũũria atĩrĩ: ‘Jehova arĩ ha?’ Arĩa marũmbũyagia watho matiigana kũũmenya; atongoria ao nĩmanemeire. Anabii maarathaga mohoro makĩgwetaga Baali, marũmĩrĩire mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
“Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩngũmũciirithia o rĩngĩ,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga. “Ningĩ nĩngaciirithia ciana cia ciana cianyu.
10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
Ringai mũthiĩ hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Kitimu mũkerorere, ningĩ mũtũmane gũthiio Kedari gũgatuĩrio wega, muone kana kũrĩ kuoneka ũndũ ta ũyũ:
11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
Atĩrĩrĩ, nĩ kũrĩ rũrĩrĩ rũrĩ rwatirika ngai ciaruo, rũkĩgarũrũkĩra ngai ingĩ? (O na harĩa ngai icio itarĩ ngai.) No rĩrĩ, andũ akwa nĩmakũũranĩtie Riiri wao na mĩhianano ĩtarĩ kĩene.
12 “Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
Inyuĩ igũrũ-rĩ, makaai nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio, inainai mũrĩ na kĩeha kĩnene,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
“Andũ akwa nĩmekĩte mehia meerĩ: Nĩmandirikĩte, o niĩ gĩthima kĩa maaĩ ma muoyo, na makeyenjera marima mangĩ ma maaĩ, namo nĩ marima mamethũkangu, matangĩiga maaĩ.
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
Rĩu-rĩ, anga Isiraeli nĩ ndungata, o mũndũ ũciarĩirwo ũkombo-inĩ? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte atuĩke mũndũ wa gũtahwo?
15 The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
Mĩrũũthi nĩĩraramĩte; nĩĩmũraramĩire. Nĩyanangĩte bũrũri wake; matũũra make macinĩtwo na mwaki, na magatigwo matarĩ mũndũ.
16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
O na andũ a Memufisi, na a Tahapanahesi nĩmagũtiihĩtie, magagwĩkĩra rũhara ruototia rwa mũtwe.
17 “Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?
Githĩ tiwe mwene wĩrehereire maũndũ maya nĩ ũndũ wa gũtirika Jehova Ngai waku, o rĩrĩa we aagũtongoragia na njĩra ĩrĩa wageraga?
18 Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
Rĩu-rĩ, nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma ũcooke bũrũri wa Misiri ũkanyue maaĩ ma Shihoru? Na ningĩ-rĩ, ũgũthiĩ Ashuri nĩkĩ, ũkanyue maaĩ ma Rũũĩ rwa Farati?
19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
Waganu waku nĩguo ũgaakũherithia, nakuo gũcooka na thuutha gwaku nĩgũgakũrũithia. Tondũ ũcio wĩciirie wega na ũmenye ũrĩa arĩ ũndũ mũũru mũno na ũrĩ ruo harĩwe, rĩrĩa ũtirikĩte Jehova Ngai waku, na rĩrĩa ũkwaga kwĩĩndigĩra,” ũguo nĩguo Mwathani, o we Jehova Mwene-Hinya-Wothe, ekuuga.
20 “For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
“Nĩwoinangire icooki rĩaku rĩa ngingo o tene, na ũgĩtuuanga mĩhĩndo yaku; woigire atĩrĩ, ‘Ndigũcooka gũgũtungata!’ Tondũ-rĩ, tũrĩma-inĩ tũrĩa tuothe tũraihu na igũrũ, na rungu rwa mũtĩ o wothe mũruru nĩkuo wakomaga ũkĩhũũra ũmaraya.
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
Niĩ ndaakũhaandĩte ũrĩ ta mũthabibũ mũthuuranĩre wa mũthemba ũrĩa mwega. Wagĩcookire kũngarũrũka atĩa, ũgĩthũka, ũgĩtuĩka ta mũthabibũ wa gĩthaka?
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
O na ũngĩĩthamba na igata, o na ũhũthĩre thabuni mũingĩ mũno-rĩ, kĩmeni kĩa wĩhia waku ndingĩtiga gũkĩona,” ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
“Rĩu-rĩ, ũngĩhota atĩa kuuga atĩrĩ: ‘Niĩ ndiĩthaahĩtie; ndirũmĩrĩire kĩrĩra kĩa Mabaali’? Ta rora wone mĩtugo yaku kũu gĩtuamba-inĩ; wĩcũũranie wega maũndũ marĩa wĩkĩte. Wee ũhaana ta moori ya ngamĩĩra ĩgĩcangacanga kũndũ na kũndũ,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
ũkahaana ta njagĩ ĩrĩa ĩmenyerete gũikara werũ-inĩ, ĩrĩa ĩnuhanuhaga rĩrĩa ĩkwenda kũhaicwo; rĩrĩa ĩrĩ na mũrukĩ-rĩ, nũũ ũngĩhota kũmĩrigĩrĩria? Njamba iria ingĩmĩenda, itingĩĩnogia ikĩmĩcaria; mweri wayo wakinya, nĩikamĩona.
25 “Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
Tiga kũhanyũka nginya ũthirĩrwo nĩ iraatũ magũrũ, naguo mũmero waku ũngʼare. No wee ũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Hatirĩ bata! nĩnyendete ngai cia kũngĩ, na no nginya ndĩciume thuutha.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
“O ta ũrĩa mũici aconorithagio aanyiitwo, ũguo no taguo nyũmba ĩno ya Isiraeli ĩconorithĩtio: o ene, na athamaki ao, na anene ao, na athĩnjĩri-Ngai ao, na anabii ao.
27 who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ 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!’
Meeraga mũtĩ atĩrĩ, ‘Wee nĩwe Baba,’ na makeera ihiga atĩrĩ, ‘Wee nĩwe wanjiarire.’ Nĩmahutatĩire, makaaga kũnyonia mothiũ mao; no rĩrĩa marĩ thĩĩna-inĩ manjĩĩraga atĩrĩ, ‘Ũka ũtũhonokie!’
28 “But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
Ikĩrĩ kũ ngai icio mwethondekeire? Kĩrekei ciũke, aakorwo no imũhonokie rĩrĩa mũrĩ thĩĩna-inĩ! Nĩgũkorwo ngai ciaku cingĩhĩte o ta matũũra maku, wee Juda.
29 “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.
“Mũgũkĩndũithia nĩ ũndũ kĩ? Inyuothe nĩmũũnemeire,” ũguo nĩguo Jehova ekuuga.
30 “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
“Nĩ wĩra wa tũhũ ndaarutire ngĩherithia andũ anyu; matiigana kũigua maakaanio magarũrũke. Rũhiũ rwaku rwa njora nĩrũniinĩte anabii anyu, o ta mũrũũthi ũrĩa mũrĩĩani.
31 Generation, consider Yahweh’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
“Atĩrĩrĩ, inyuĩ andũ a rũciaro rũrũ, mwĩcũraniei wega ũhoro wa ndũmĩrĩri ĩno ya Jehova: “Kaĩ nduĩkĩte ta werũ harĩ Isiraeli, kana ta bũrũri ũrĩ nduma nene? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmaga andũ akwa moige atĩrĩ, ‘Ithuĩ tũrĩĩkaga ũrĩa tũkwenda; tũtigagũcookerera rĩngĩ’?
32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
Rĩu-rĩ, mũirĩtu ahota kũriganĩrwo nĩ mathaga make ma kwĩgemia, kana mũhiki ariganĩrwo nĩ nguo ciake cia ũhiki? No rĩrĩ, andũ akwa nĩmariganĩirwo nĩ niĩ, matukũ maingĩ matangĩtarĩka.
33 How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
Kaĩ nĩ ũrĩ ũũgĩ mũingĩ rĩrĩa ũgũcaria wendo-ĩ! Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o na atumia arĩa aaganu mũno no merute na mĩthiĩre yaku.
34 Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
Nguo-inĩ ciaku-rĩ, andũ nĩmoonaga thakame ya athĩĩni arĩa matarĩ ũũru mekĩte, o na aakorwo ndwamanyiitire magĩtua nyũmba. No rĩrĩ, o na gũtariĩ ũguo
35 “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
wee uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndirĩ ũndũ mũũru njĩkĩte; we ndandaakarĩire.’ No niĩ nĩngũgũtuĩra ciira, tondũ uugaga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndiĩhĩtie.’
36 Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
Ũriũngariũngaga nĩkĩ, ũkĩgarũraga mĩthiĩre yaku? Nĩũgaconorithio nĩ bũrũri wa Misiri, o ta ũrĩa waconorithirio nĩ Ashuri.
37 You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.
Ũgaacooka uume kũndũ kũu ũigĩrĩire moko mũtwe, nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩaregete acio wĩhokete, o matigagũteithia.

< Jeremiah 2 >