Neno hili ndilo lililomjia Yeremia, kutoka kwa Bwana, kusema,
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
Ondoka, ukashuke mpaka nyumba ya mfinyanzi, na huko nitakusikizisha maneno yangu.
Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.
Basi nikashuka mpaka nyumba ya mfinyanzi, na tazama, alikuwa akifanya kazi yake kwa magurudumu.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
Na chombo kile, alichokuwa akikifinyanga, kilipoharibika mkononi mwake yule mfinyanzi, alikifanyiza tena kuwa chombo kingine, kama alivyoona vema yule mfinyanzi kukifanya.
When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
Ee nyumba ya Israeli, je! Siwezi mimi kuwatendea ninyi vile vile kama mfinyanzi huyu alivyotenda? Asema Bwana. Angalieni, kama udongo ulivyo katika mkono wa mfinyanzi, ndivyo mlivyo ninyi katika mkono wangu, Ee nyumba ya Israeli.
House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter? says Yahweh. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
Wakati wo wote nitakapotoa habari za taifa, na habari za ufalme, kuung'oa, na kuuvunja, na kuuangamiza;
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
ikiwa taifa lile nililolitaja litageuka, na kuacha maovu yake nitaghairi, nisitende mabaya yale niliyoazimia kuwatenda.
if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
Na wakati wo wote nitakapotoa habari za taifa, na habari za ufalme, kuujenga na kuupanda,
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
ikiwa watatenda maovu mbele za macho yangu, wasiitii sauti yangu, basi nitaghairi, nisitende mema yale niliyoazimia kuwatendea.
if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.
Haya! Basi, ukawaambie watu wa Yuda, na wenyeji wa Yerusalemu, ukisema, Bwana asema hivi, Tazama, ninafinyanga mabaya juu yenu, na kuwaza mawazo juu yenu; rudini sasa, kila mmoja na aiache njia yake mbaya; zitengenezeni njia zenu, na matendo yenu.
Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return you now everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
Lakini wao wasema, Hapana tumaini lo lote; maana sisi tutafuata mawazo yetu wenyewe, nasi tutatenda kila mmoja wetu kwa kuufuata ushupavu wa moyo wake mbaya.
But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.
Basi, kwa ajili ya hayo, Bwana asema hivi, Ulizeni sasa katika mataifa, ni nani aliyesikia habari za mambo kama hayo; bikira wa Israeli ametenda tendo lichukizalo sana.
Therefore thus says Yahweh: Ask you now among the nations, who has heard such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
Je! Theluji ya Lebanoni itakoma katika jabali la kondeni? Au je! Maji ya baridi yashukayo toka mbali yatakauka?
Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? [or] shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
Maana watu wangu wamenisahau, wameufukizia ubatili uvumba; nao wamewakaza katika njia zao, katika mapito ya zamani, ili wapite katika njia za kando, katika njia isiyotengenezwa;
For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false [gods]; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up;
ili kufanya nchi yao kuwa kitu cha kushangaza, na cha kuzomewa daima; kila mtu apitaye karibu nayo atashangaa, na kutikisa kichwa chake.
to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.
Nami nitawatawanya mbele ya adui, kama kwa upepo wa mashariki; nami nitaviangalia visogo vyao, wala si nyuso zao, siku ya msiba wao.
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
Hapo ndipo waliposema, Njoni na tufanye mashauri juu ya Yeremia; maana sheria haitampotea kuhani, wala shauri halitampotea mwenye hekima, wala neno halitampotea nabii. Njoni, na tumpige kwa ndimi zetu, wala tusiyaangalie maneno yake yo yote.
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Niangalie, Ee Bwana, ukasikilize sauti ya wanaoshindana nami.
Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
Je! Mabaya yalipwe badala ya mema? Maana wameichimbia nafsi yangu shimo. Kumbuka jinsi nilivyosimama mbele zako, ili niseme mema kwa ajili yao, nikaigeuze ghadhabu yako isiwapate.
Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
Kwa sababu hiyo, uwatoe watoto wao waone njaa, uwatoe nguvu za upanga ziwapate; wake zao wafiwe na watoto wao, na kufiwa na waume zao; wanaume wao wauawe, na vijana wao wapigwe kwa upanga vitani.
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, [and] their young men struck of the sword in battle.
Kilio na kisikiwe kitokacho katika nyumba zao, hapo utakapoleta kikosi juu yao kwa ghafula; kwa maana wamenichimbia shimo waninase, nao wameifichia miguu yangu mitego.
Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
Lakini wewe, Bwana, unajua mashauri yao yote juu yangu, ya kuniua; usiwasamehe uovu wao, wala usifute dhambi yao mbele za macho yako; bali wakwazwe mbele zako; uwatende mambo wakati wa hasira yako.
Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me; don't forgive their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight; but let them be overthrown before you; deal you with them in the time of your anger.