< Yeremia 13 >

1 Bwana aliniambia hivi, “Nenda ukape nguo ya kitani na kuiweka karibu na kiuno chako, lakini usiiweke kwenye maji kwanza.”
The LORD said to me, “Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and do not put it in water.”
2 Kwa hiyo nilinunua vazi kama vile Bwana alivyoagiza, na nikafunga karibu na kiuno changu.
So I bought a belt according to the LORD’s word, and put it on my waist.
3 Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia mara ya pili, kusema,
The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying,
4 “Twaa vazi lako ulilolinunua lililo karibu na kiuno chako, uinuke, ukasafiri mpaka Frati. Ukaifiche huko katika mwamba wa jabali.
“Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.”
5 Basi nikaenda na kuificha katika Frati kama vile Bwana alivyoniamuru.
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6 Baada ya siku nyingi, Bwana akaniambia, “Simama, urudi Frati. Ukaichukue nguo ambayo nilikuambia ufiche.”
After many days, the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there.”
7 Kwa hiyo nikarudi Frati na kuchimba na kuchukua nguo mahali pale nilipoificha. Lakini tazama! Nguo hiyo ilikuwa imeharibika; haikuwa nzuri kabisa.
Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was ruined. It was profitable for nothing.
8 Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia tena, kusema,
Then the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
9 “Bwana asema hivi, Nitakiangamiza kiburi cha Yuda na Yerusalemu.
“The LORD says, ‘In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 Watu hawa waovu wanaokataa kusikia neno langu, ambao huenda katika ugumu wa mioyo yao, ambao hufuata miungu mingine ili kuabudu na kuinama-watakuwa kama hii nguo isiyofaa kwa lolote.
This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods to serve them and to worship them, will even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing.
11 Kwa maana kama vile vazi lililofungwa kwenye viuno vya mtu, ndivyo nimefainya nyumba yote ya Israeli na nyumba yote ya Yuda zimefungwa kwangu- hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-wawe watu wangu, ili kunifanya jina, sifa, na heshima. Lakini hawakunisikiliza.
For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to me,’ says the LORD; ‘that they may be to me for a people, for a name, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’
12 Basi uwaambie neno hili, 'Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi Kila chupa itajazwa divai.' Watakuambia, 'Je, hatujui kwamba kila chupa itajazwa divai?'
“Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘The LORD, the God of Israel says, “Every container should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every container should be filled with wine?’
13 Basi uwaambie,' Bwana asema hivi: Tazama, nitawajaza kila mkaaji wa nchi hii ulevi, na wafalme wanaokaa kiti cha Daudi, na makuhani, na manabii, na wenyeji wote wa Yerusalemu.
Then tell them, ‘The LORD says, “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 Ndipo nitawagonganisha kila mtu na mwenzake baba na watoto wao pamoja; hili ndilo tamko la Bwana-sitawahurumia au kuwa na huruma, wala sitawarehemu kutoka kwenye uharibifu.
I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the LORD: “I will not pity, spare, or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.”’”
15 Sikilizeni na makini. Msiwe na kiburi, kwa kuwa Bwana amesema.
Hear, and give ear. Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken.
16 Mtukuze Bwana, Mungu wako, kabla ya hajaleta giza, na kabla ya kuifanya miguu yako kuwa na mashaka juu ya milima wakati wa jioni. Kwa maana unatarajia mwanga, lakini ataugeuza kuwa mahali pa giza, na kuwa giza nene.
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.
17 Kwa hiyo ikiwa husikilizi, nitaomboleza peke yangu kwa sababu ya kiburi chako. Hakika macho yangu yatalia na kutoa machozi, kwa sababu kundi la Bwana limechukuliwa mateka.
But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
18 “Mwambieni mfalme na mama wa malkia, 'Jinyenyekezeni, na kukaa chini, kwa maana taji juu ya kichwa chako, kiburi chako na utukufu wako, umeanguka.'
Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves. Sit down, for your crowns have come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 Miji ya Negebu itafungwa, bila mtu wa kufungua. Yuda watachukuliwa mateka, wote uhamishoni.
The cities of the South are shut up, and there is no one to open them. Judah is carried away captive: all of them. They are wholly carried away captive.
20 Inua macho yako na angalia wale wanaokuja kutoka kaskazini. Je, ni kundi gani alilokupa, kundi ambalo lilikuwa zuri sana kwako?
Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
21 Je, unasema nini wakati Mungu anawaweka wale ambao uliwafundisha kuwa marafiki? Je, huu si mwanzo wa maumivu ya utungu ambayo yatakuchukua kama mwanamke aliye katika kuzaa?
What will you say when he sets over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? Will not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 Kisha unaweza kusema moyoni mwako, 'Kwa nini mambo haya yanatokea kwangu?' Itakuwa kwa uovu wa maovu yako ambapo marinda yako yamefunuliwa na umeumizwa.
If you say in your heart, “Why have these things come on me?” Your skirts are uncovered because of the greatness of your iniquity, and your heels suffer violence.
23 Je, watu wa Kushi hubadilisha rangi yao ya ngozi, au chui hubadilisha madoa yake? Ikiwa ndivyo, basi wewe mwenyewe, ingawa unazoea uovu, utaweza kufanya mema.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24 Kwa hiyo nitawaangamiza kama makapi ambayo yanaangamia katika upepo wa jangwa.
“Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 Hii ndiyo niliyokupa, sehemu ambayo nimekuagiza kwako-hili ndilo tamko la Bwana - kwa sababu umenisahau na kuamini katika udanganyifu.
This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me,” says the LORD, “because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.”
26 Kwa hiyo mimi mwenyewe nitaondoa nguo zako, na sehemu zako za siri zitaonekana.
Therefore I will also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame will appear.
27 Uzinzi na ubembe wako, aibu ya tabia yako ya uasherati kwenye milima na katika mashamba! Nitayafanya yaonekane, mambo haya ya machukizo! Ole wako, Yerusalemu! Hutaki kuwa safi. Je! Hili litaendelea kwa muda gani?”
I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean. How long will it yet be?”

< Yeremia 13 >