Yeremia 16
1 Kisha neno la Bwana likanijia:
A message from the Lord that came to me, saying,
2 “Kamwe usioe na kuwa na wana wala binti mahali hapa.”
Don't marry or have children here.
3 Kwa maana hili ndilo asemalo Bwana kuhusu wana na binti wazaliwao katika nchi hii, na kuhusu wale wanawake ambao ni mama zao, na wale wanaume ambao ni baba zao:
This is what the Lord says about children born here, and about their mothers and fathers—their parents here in this country:
4 “Watakufa kwa magonjwa ya kufisha. Hawataombolezewa wala kuzikwa, lakini watakuwa kama mavi yaliyosambaa juu ya ardhi. Watakufa kwa upanga na kwa njaa, nazo maiti zao zitakuwa chakula cha ndege wa angani, na cha wanyama wa nchi.”
They will die from fatal diseases. No one will mourn for them. Their bodies won't be buried, but will lie on the ground like manure. They will be destroyed by war and famine, and their bodies will be food for birds of prey and wild animals.
5 Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Usiingie katika nyumba ambayo kuna chakula cha matanga, usiende kuwaombolezea wala kuwahurumia, kwa sababu nimeziondoa baraka zangu, upendo wangu na huruma zangu kutoka kwa watu hawa,” asema Bwana.
This is what the Lord says: Don't enter a home where people are having a funeral meal. Don't visit them to mourn or to offer condolences, for I have taken away my peace, my trustworthy love, and my mercy from these people, declares the Lord.
6 “Wakubwa na wadogo watakufa katika nchi hii. Hawatazikwa wala kuombolezewa, na hakuna atakayejikatakata au kunyoa nywele za kichwa chake kwa ajili yao.
Everyone, from the most important to the least, will die in this country. They will not be buried or mourned; there will be no rites for the dead such as cutting oneself or shaving of heads.
7 Hakuna yeyote atakayewapa chakula ili kuwafariji wale waombolezao kwa ajili ya wale waliokufa, hata akiwa amefiwa na baba au mama, wala hakuna yeyote atakayewapa kinywaji ili kuwafariji.
No funeral receptions will be held to comfort those who mourn—not even a comforting drink is to be offered at the loss of a father or mother.
8 “Usiingie katika nyumba ambayo kuna karamu, na kuketi humo ili kula na kunywa.
Don't go into a house where people are celebrating and sit down with them to eat and drink.
9 Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, aliye Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Mbele ya macho yako na katika siku zako, nitakomesha sauti zote za shangwe na za furaha, na pia sauti za bibi arusi na bwana arusi mahali hapa.’
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am going to put a stop right here, while you watch, to any sounds of celebration and joy, the happy voices of the groom and bride.
10 “Utakapowaambia watu hawa mambo haya yote na wakakuuliza, ‘Kwa nini Bwana ameamuru maafa makubwa kama haya dhidi yetu? Tumefanya kosa gani? Tumetenda dhambi gani dhidi ya Bwana, Mungu wetu?’
When you explain all this to them they'll ask you, “Why has the Lord ordered that such a terrible disaster should happen to us? What did we do wrong? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?”
11 Basi waambie, ‘Ni kwa sababu baba zenu waliniacha mimi, wakafuata miungu mingine ili kuitumikia na kuiabudu. Waliniacha mimi na hawakuishika sheria yangu,’ asema Bwana.
Answer them: It's because your forefathers deserted me, declares the Lord. They went and followed other gods, serving them and worshiping them. They abandoned me and didn't keep my laws.
12 ‘Lakini ninyi mmetenda uovu zaidi kuliko baba zenu. Tazama jinsi ambavyo kila mmoja wenu anafuata ukaidi wa moyo wake mbaya, badala ya kunitii mimi.
You however have done even more evil than your forefathers. Look at how all of you followed your own stubborn evil thinking instead of obeying me.
13 Kwa hiyo nitawaondoa katika nchi hii na kuwatupa katika nchi ambayo ninyi wala baba zenu hamkuijua, nako huko mtaitumikia miungu mingine usiku na mchana, kwa maana sitawapa fadhili zangu huko.’
So I'm going to throw you out of this country and exile you in a country unfamiliar to you and your forefathers. There you'll serve other gods day and night, because I won't help you at all.
14 “Hata hivyo, siku zinakuja,” asema Bwana, “wakati ambapo watu hawatasema tena, ‘Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, aliyewapandisha Waisraeli kutoka Misri,’
But listen! The time is coming, declares the Lord, when people won't any longer make vows, saying. “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites out of Egypt.”
15 bali watasema, ‘Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, aliyewatoa wana wa Israeli kutoka nchi ya kaskazini na nchi zote alizokuwa amewafukuzia.’ Maana nitawarudisha katika nchi niliyowapa baba zao.
Instead they'll say, “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites back from the northern country and all the other countries where he had exiled them.” I'm going to bring them back to the country I gave their forefathers.
16 “Lakini sasa nitawaagiza wavuvi wengi,” asema Bwana, “nao watawavua. Baada ya hilo, nitawaagizia wawindaji wengi, nao watawawinda kwenye kila mlima na kilima, na katika nyufa za miamba.
But for the moment I'm going to send for many fishermen and they'll catch them, declares the Lord. Then I'm going to send for many hunters, and they'll hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from their hiding places in the rocks.
17 Macho yangu yanaziona njia zao zote, hazikufichika kwangu, wala dhambi yao haikusitirika.
I see everything they're doing. They can't hide from me, and their sins aren't hidden from me either.
18 Nitawalipiza maradufu kwa ajili ya uovu wao na dhambi yao, kwa sababu wameinajisi nchi yangu kwa maumbo yasiyo na uhai ya vinyago vyao vibaya, na kuujaza urithi wangu na sanamu za kuchukiza.”
First I'm going to pay them back double for their wickedness and sin, because they have made my land unclean with the lifeless bodies of their disgusting idols, filling my special country with their offensive pagan images.
19 Ee Bwana, nguvu zangu na ngome yangu, kimbilio langu wakati wa taabu, kwako mataifa yatakujia kutoka miisho ya dunia na kusema, “Baba zetu hawakuwa na chochote zaidi ya miungu ya uongo, sanamu zisizofaa kitu ambazo hazikuwafaidia lolote.
Lord, you are my strength and my fortress, my safe place in the time of trouble. Nations will come to you from all over the earth, and they will say, “The religion of our forefathers was a total lie! The idols they worshiped were useless—no good at all.
20 Je, watu hujitengenezea miungu yao wenyewe? Naam, lakini hao si miungu!”
How can people make gods for themselves? These aren't gods!”
21 “Kwa hiyo nitawafundisha: wakati huu nitawafundisha nguvu zangu na uwezo wangu. Ndipo watakapojua kuwa Jina langu ndimi Bwana.
Now they'll see! I'll show them, and then they'll recognize my power and strength. Then they'll know that I am the Lord!
