Jeremiah 12
1 You are righteous, LORD, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?
Wewe ni mwenye haki, Bwana, wakati wowote ninapoleta mashitaka kwako. Lazima nikuambie sababu yangu ya kulalamika: Kwa nini njia za waovu hufanikiwa? Watu wote wasiokuwa na imani wanafanikiwa.
2 You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
Wewe uliwapanda nao wakawa na mizizi. Wanaendelea kuzaa matunda. Wewe upo karibu nao katika vinywa vyao, lakini mbali na mioyo yao.
3 But you, LORD, know me. You see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Lakini wewe mwenyewe unanijua, Bwana. Umeona mimi na kuchunguza moyo wangu. Waondoe kama kondoo wa kuchinjwa. Ukakaweke tayari kwa siku ya kuchinjwa.
4 How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals and birds are consumed; because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”
Je! Nchi itakauka kwa muda gani, na mimea katika kila shamba itaota kwa sababu ya uovu wa wenyeji wake? Wanyama na ndege wameondolewa. Hakika, watu wanasema, “Mungu hajui nini kitatokea kwetu.”
5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? Though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
Bwana akasema, “Kweli, wewe, Yeremia, umetembea na askari wa miguu na wamechoka, unawezaje kushindana dhidi ya farasi? Ikiwa unashuka chini ya nchi iliyo salama, utafanyaje katika misitu karibu na Yordani?
6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Do not believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
Kwa maana hata ndugu zako na familia ya baba yako wamekudharau na kukukemea kwa sauti kubwa. Usiwaamini, hata kama wanasema mambo mazuri kwako.
7 “I have forsaken my house. I have cast off my heritage. I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
Nimeiacha nyumba yangu; Nimeacha urithi wangu. Nimewatia watu wangu wapendwa mikononi mwa adui zake.
8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me. Therefore I have hated her.
Urithi wangu umekuwa kwangu kama simba katika tundu; yeye hujiweka juu yangu kwa sauti yake mwenyewe, hivyo nimemchukia.
9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field. Bring them to devour.
Malipo yangu ya thamani ni fisi, na ndege wenye madoadoa karibu na kichwa chake. Nenda, ukakusanye viumbe vyote vilivyomo katika mashamba, na uwalete ili wale.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Wachungaji wengi wameharibu shamba langu la mizabibu. Wameipoteza sehemu yangu yote ya ardhi; Waligeuza sehemu yangu nzuri kuwa jangwa, ukiwa.
11 They have made it a desolation. It mourns to me, being desolate. The whole land is made desolate, because no one cares.
Wamemfanya kuwa ukiwa. Ninaomboleza kwa ajili yake; yeye ni ukiwa. Nchi yote imefanywa kuwa ukiwa, kwa maana hakuna mtu aliyeweka haya moyoni mwake.
12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of the LORD devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land. No flesh has peace.
Waangamizi wamekuja juu ya maeneo yote yaliyo wazi jangwani, kwa maana upanga wa Bwana unakula kutoka upande mmoja wa nchi hadi mwingine. Hakuna usalama katika nchi kwa kiumbe chochote kilicho hai.
13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of the LORD’s fierce anger.”
Walipanda ngano lakini mavuno ya miiba. Wao wamechoka kutokana na kazi lakini hawajapata chochote. Basi muaibike kwa faida yenu kwa sababu ya ghadhabu ya Bwana.”
14 The LORD says, “Concerning all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
Bwana asema hivi dhidi ya majirani zangu wote, waovu wanaopiga milki niliyowarithisha watu wangu Israeli, “Tazama, mimi ndimi ambaye nitawafukuza kutoka nchi yao wenyewe, nami nitaifuta nyumba ya Yuda kutoka kati yao.
15 It will happen that after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
Ndipo baada ya kuangamiza mataifa hayo, itatokea kwamba nitakuwa na huruma juu yao na kuwaleta tena; Nitawarudi-kila mtu kwa urithi wake na nchi yake.
16 It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives;’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people.
Kisha itakuwa ikiwa mataifa hayo yatajifunza kwa makini njia za watu wangu, kuapa kwa jina langu 'Kama Bwana anaishivyo!' vile vile kama walivyowafundishwa watu wangu kuapa kwa Baali, basi watajengwa katikati ya watu wangu.
17 But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it,” says the LORD.
Lakini kama hakuna yeyote anayesikiliza, basi nitaling'oa taifa hilo. Kwa hakika litang'olewa na kuharibiwa-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana.”
