1
Maneno ya Yeremia, mwana wa Hilkia, mmoja wa makuhani waliokuwa katika Anathothi, katika nchi ya Benyamini;
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
2
ambaye neno la Bwana lilimjia katika siku za Yosia, mwana wa Amoni, mfalme wa Yuda, katika mwaka wa kumi na tatu wa kumiliki kwake.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,
3
Tena lilikuja siku za Yehoyakimu, mwana wa Yosia, mfalme wa Yuda, hata mwisho wa mwaka wa kumi na mmoja wa Sedekia, mwana wa Yosia, mfalme wa Yuda; hata wakati ulipochukuliwa mateka Yerusalemu, katika mwezi wa tano.
and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
4
Neno la Bwana lilinijia, kusema,
The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5
Kabla sijakuumba katika tumbo nalikujua, na kabla hujatoka tumboni, nalikutakasa; nimekuweka kuwa nabii wa mataifa.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6
Ndipo niliposema, Aa, Bwana MUNGU! Tazama, siwezi kusema; maana mimi ni mtoto.
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
7
Lakini Bwana akaniambia, Usiseme, Mimi ni mtoto; maana utakwenda kwa kila mtu nitakayekutuma kwake, nawe utasema kila neno nitakalokuamuru.
But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
8
Usiogope kwa sababu ya hao maana mimi nipo pamoja nawe nikuokoe, asema Bwana.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
9
Ndipo Bwana akaunyosha mkono wake, akanigusa kinywa changu; Bwana akaniambia, Tazama, nimetia maneno yangu kinywani mwako;
Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10
angalia, nimekuweka leo juu ya mataifa na juu ya falme, ili kung'oa, na kubomoa, na kuharibu, na kuangamiza; ili kujenga na kupanda.
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”
11
Tena neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema, Yeremia, waona nini? Nikasema, Naona ufito wa mlozi.
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12
Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, Umeona vema, kwa maana ninaliangalia neno langu, ili nilitimize.
“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”
13
Neno la Bwana likanijia mara ya pili, kusema, Waona nini? Nikasema, Naona sufuria lenye maji yatokotayo, na mdomo wake unaelekea toka upande wa kaskazini.
Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”
14
Ndipo Bwana akaniambia, Toka kaskazini mabaya yatatokea, na kuwapata watu wote wakaao katika nchi hii.
Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.
15
Kwa kuwa, tazama, nitaziita jamaa zote za falme za kaskazini, asema Bwana; nao watakuja, na kuweka kila mtu kiti chake cha enzi mbele ya mahali pa kuingilia malango ya Yerusalemu, na kuzielekea kuta zake pande zote, na kuielekea miji yote ya Yuda.
For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
16
Nami nitatamka hukumu zangu juu yao kwa habari ya uovu wao wote; kwa kuwa wameniacha mimi, wakaifukizia uvumba miungu mingine, wakaziabudu kazi za mikono yao wenyewe.
I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, and they have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17
Haya basi, wewe jifunge viuno, ukaondoke ukawaambie maneno yote niliyokuamuru; usifadhaike kwa ajili yao, nisije nikakufadhaisha wewe mbele yao.
Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
18
Maana, tazama, nimekufanya leo kuwa mji wenye boma, na nguzo ya chuma, na kuta za shaba, juu ya nchi yote; juu ya wafalme wa Yuda, na juu ya wakuu wake, na juu ya makuhani wake, na juu ya watu wa nchi hii.
Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
19
Nao watapigana nawe; lakini hawatakushinda; maana mimi nipo pamoja nawe, asema Bwana, ili nikuokoe.
They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.