1
Kimbieni mpate kuwa salama, enyi wana wa Benyamini; tokeni katika Yerusalemu, pigeni tarumbeta katika Tekoa, simamisheni ishara juu ya Beth-hakeremu; kwa maana mabaya yanachungulia toka kaskazini, na uharibifu mkuu.
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.
2
Binti Sayuni aliye mzuri, mwororo, nitamkatilia mbali.
Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.
3
Wachungaji na makundi yao ya kondoo watamjilia; watapiga hema zao karibu naye pande zote; watalisha kila mmoja mahali pake.
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:
4
Takaseni vita juu yake; inukeni, na tupande juu wakati wa adhuhuri. Ole wetu, kwa kuwa mchana umeanza kupungua, vivuli vya jioni vinazidi kuwa virefu.
‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.
5
Inukeni, na tupande juu wakati wa usiku, tukayaharibu majumba yake.
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
6
Maana Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Jikatieni miti, mfanyize boma juu ya Yerusalemu. Mji huu ni mji unaojiliwa; dhuluma tupu imo ndani yake.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
7
Kama vile kisima kitoavyo maji yake, ndivyo utoavyo uovu wake; jeuri na kuharibu kwasikiwa ndani yake; ugonjwa na jeraha zi mbele zangu daima.
As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.
8
Uadhibishwe, Ee Yerusalemu, nafsi yangu, isije ikafarakana nawe; nisije nikakufanya ukiwa, nchi isiyokaliwa na watu.
Be forewarned, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitant.”
9
Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Wataokota mabaki ya Israeli kama mzabibu; rudisha mkono wako ndani ya vikapu, kama mchuma zabibu.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.”
10
Niseme na nani na kushuhudia, wapate kusikia? Tazama, sikio lao halikutahiriwa, wala hawawezi kusikiliza; tazama, neno la Bwana limekuwa matukano kwao; hawalifurahii.
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
11
Lakini nimejaa ghadhabu ya Bwana; nimechoka kwa kujizuia; imwageni juu ya watoto walio njiani, na juu ya kusanyiko la vijana pia; maana hata mume atatwaliwa pamoja na mkewe, mzee pamoja na yeye aliyetimiza siku zake.
But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.
12
Na nyumba zao zitakuwa mali za watu wengine, mashamba yao na wake zao pamoja; kwa kuwa nitaunyosha mkono wangu juu ya wenyeji wa nchi hii, asema Bwana.
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.
13
Kwa maana, tangu aliye mdogo hata aliye mkubwa miongoni mwao, kila mmoja ni mtamanifu; na, tangu nabii hata kuhani, kila mmoja hutenda mambo ya udanganyifu.
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
14
Wameiponya jeraha ya watu wangu kwa juu juu tu, wakisema, Amani, Amani, wala hapana amani.
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.
15
Je! Walitahayarika, walipokuwa wameunda machukizo? La, hawakutahayarika hata kidogo, wala hawakuweza kuona haya usoni; basi, wataanguka miongoni mwa hao waangukao; wakati nitakapowajilia wataangushwa chini, asema Bwana.
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
16
Bwana asema hivi, Simameni katika njia kuu, mkaone, mkaulize habari za mapito ya zamani, I wapi njia iliyo njema? Mkaende katika njia hiyo, nanyi mtajipatia raha katika nafsi zenu. Lakini walisema, Hatutaki kwenda katika njia hiyo.
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
17
Nami naliweka walinzi juu yenu, wakisema, Isikilizeni sauti ya tarumbeta; lakini walisema, Hatutaki kusikiliza.
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
18
Kwa sababu hiyo sikilizeni, enyi mataifa, mkajue, Ee kusanyiko, ni jambo gani litokealo kati yao.
Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them.
19
Sikia, Ee nchi; tazama, nitaleta mabaya juu ya watu hawa, naam, matunda ya mawazo yao, kwa sababu hawakuyasikiliza maneno yangu; tena kwa habari ya sheria yangu, wameikataa.
Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
20
Yafaa nini niletewe ubani kutoka Sheba, na uudi kutoka nchi iliyo mbali? Sadaka zenu za kuteketezwa hazikubaliwi, wala dhabihu zenu haziniridhii.
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
21
Basi, kwa hiyo, Bwana asema hivi, Tazama, nitaweka makwazo mbele ya watu hawa, na baba na wana wao watajikwaa pamoja; jirani ya mtu na rafiki yake watapotea.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”
22
Bwana asema hivi, Tazama, watu wanakuja, wakitoka katika nchi ya kaskazini; na taifa kubwa litaamshwa, litokalo katika pande za mwisho wa dunia.
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.
23
Washika upinde na mkuki; ni wakatili, hawana huruma; sauti yao huvuma kama bahari, nao wamepanda farasi zao; kila mmoja kama mtu wa vita amejipanga juu yako, Ee binti Sayuni.
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”
24
Tumesikia habari zake; mikono yetu inalegea; dhiki imetushika, na utungu kama wa mwanamke wakati wa kuzaa kwake.
We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
25
Msitoke kwenda mashambani, wala msitembee njiani, kwa maana upanga wa adui uko huko; hofu ziko pande zote.
Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
26
Ee binti wa watu wangu, ujivike nguo ya magunia, na kugaagaa katika majivu; fanya maombolezo, kama maombolezo kwa ajili ya mwana wa pekee, maombolezo ya uchungu mwingi; maana mwenye kuteka nyara atakuja juu yetu ghafula.
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
27
Nimekuweka uwe mnara na ngome kati ya watu wangu; upate kuijua njia yao na kuijaribu.
“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
28
Ni waasi kupita kiasi wote pia, waendao huko na huko wakisingizia, ni shaba na chuma hao, hutenda dhuluma wote pia.
All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.
29
Mifuo inafukuta kwa nguvu; risasi tu inatoka katika moto huo; mfua fedha ameyeyusha bure tu; maana wabaya hawaondolewi mbali.
The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
30
Watu watawaita taka za fedha, kwa sababu Bwana amewakataa.
They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”