1
Bwana akaniambia hivi, Enenda, ukajinunulie mshipi wa kitani, ukajivike viuno, wala usiutie majini.
This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”
2
Basi nikanunua mshipi sawasawa na neno la Bwana, nikajivika viunoni.
So I bought a loincloth in accordance with the word of the LORD, and I put it around my waist.
3
Nalo neno la Bwana likanijia mara ya pili, kusema,
Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time:
4
Twaa mshipi ule ulioununua, ulio viunoni mwako, kisha ondoka, enenda mpaka mto Frati, ukaufiche huko katika pango la jabali.
“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”
5
Basi nikaenda, nikauficha karibu na mto Frati, kama Bwana alivyoniamuru.
So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.
6
Hata ikawa, baada ya siku nyingi, Bwana akaniambia, Ondoka, enenda mpaka mto Frati, ukautwae ule mshipi, niliokuamuru kuuficha huko.
Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.”
7
Ndipo nikaenda mpaka mto Frati, nikachimba, nikautwaa ule mshipi katika mahali pale nilipouficha; na tazama, mshipi ulikuwa umeharibika, haukufaa tena kwa lo lote.
So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all.
8
Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
Then the word of the LORD came to me:
9
Bwana asema hivi, Jinsi iyo hiyo nitakiharibu kiburi cha Yuda, na kiburi kikuu cha Yerusalemu.
“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10
Watu hawa waovu, wanaokataa kusikiliza maneno yangu, wanaokwenda kwa ushupavu wa mioyo yao, na kufuata miungu mingine ili kuitumikia na kuiabudu, watakuwa hali moja na mshipi huu, usiofaa kwa lo lote.
These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.
11
Maana kama vile mshipi unavyoshikamana na viuno vya mtu, ndivyo nilivyowashikamanisha nami nyumba yote ya Israeli; na nyumba yote ya Yuda, asema Bwana; wapate kuwa watu kwangu mimi, na jina, na sifa, na utukufu; lakini hawakutaka kusikia.
For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.
12
Basi utawaambia neno hili, Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi, Kila chupa itajazwa divai; nao watakuambia, Je, sisi hatujui ya kuwa kila chupa itajazwa divai?
Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’
13
Ndipo utakapowaambia, Bwana asema hivi, Tazama, nitawajaza ulevi wenyeji wote wa nchi hii, hata wafalme wanaoketi katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi, na makuhani, na manabii, na wenyeji wote wa Yerusalemu.
then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.
14
Nitawagonganisha, mtu na mwenzake, naam, baba za watu na watoto wao pamoja, asema Bwana; sitahurumia, wala sitaachilia, wala sitarehemu, hata nisiwaangamize.
I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
15
Sikilizeni ninyi, kategeni masikio yenu; msifanye kiburi; maana Bwana amenena.
Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
16
Mtukuzeni Bwana, Mungu wenu, kabla hajaleta giza, na kabla miguu yenu haijakwaa juu ya milima yenye giza; na wakati mnapoitazamia nuru, kabla hajaigeuza kuwa kivuli cha mauti, na giza nene.
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.
17
Bali kama hamtaki kusikia, roho yangu italia kwa siri, kwa sababu ya kiburi chenu; na jicho langu litalia sana na kutoka machozi mengi, kwa kuwa kundi la Bwana limechukuliwa hali ya kufungwa.
But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
18
Mwambie mfalme, na mama ya mfalme, Nyenyekeeni na kuketi chini; Kwa maana vilemba vyenu vimeshuka, naam, taji ya utukufu wenu.
Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
19
Miji ya Negebu imefungwa malango yake, wala hapana mtu wa kuyafungua; Yuda amechukuliwa hali ya kufungwa; amechukuliwa kabisa hali ya kufungwa.
The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.
20
Inua macho yako, Ee Yerusalemu, ukawatazame hawa wanaokuja kutoka kaskazini; liko wapi kundi lako ulilopewa, kundi lile zuri?
Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?
21
Utasema nini wewe, atakapowaweka rafiki zako kuwa kichwa juu yako, ikiwa wewe mwenyewe umewafundisha kuwa juu yako? Je! Huzuni haitakushika, kama utungu wa mwanamke aliye katika kuzaa?
What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?
22
Nawe ukisema moyoni mwako, Mbona mambo haya yamenipata mimi? Ni kwa sababu ya wingi wa uovu wako, marinda yako yamefunuliwa, na visigino vya miguu yako vimeumia.
And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed.
23
Je! Mkushi aweza kuibadili ngozi yake, au chui madoa-doa yake? Kama aweza, ndipo na ninyi mwaweza kutenda mema, ninyi mliozoea kutenda mabaya.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.
24
Kwa sababu hiyo nitawatawanya, kama makapi yapitayo, kwa upepo wa jangwani.
“I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.
25
Hiyo ndiyo kura yako, fungu lako ulilopimiwa na mimi, asema Bwana; kwa kuwa umenisahau, na kuutumainia uongo.
This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.
26
Kwa ajili ya hayo, mimi nami nitayafunua marinda yako mbele ya uso wako, na aibu yako itaonekana.
So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen.
27
Nimeona machukizo yako, naam, uzinifu wako, na ubembe wako, na uasherati wa ukahaba wako, juu ya milima katika mashamba. Ole wako, Ee Yerusalemu! Hutaki kutakaswa; mambo hayo yataendelea hata lini?
Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”