1
Neno hili ndilo lililomjia Yeremia, kutoka kwa Bwana, kusema,
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
2
Ondoka, ukashuke mpaka nyumba ya mfinyanzi, na huko nitakusikizisha maneno yangu.
“Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.”
3
Basi nikashuka mpaka nyumba ya mfinyanzi, na tazama, alikuwa akifanya kazi yake kwa magurudumu.
So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel.
4
Na chombo kile, alichokuwa akikifinyanga, kilipoharibika mkononi mwake yule mfinyanzi, alikifanyiza tena kuwa chombo kingine, kama alivyoona vema yule mfinyanzi kukifanya.
But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do.
5
Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6
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.
“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7
Wakati wo wote nitakapotoa habari za taifa, na habari za ufalme, kuung'oa, na kuuvunja, na kuuangamiza;
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
8
ikiwa taifa lile nililolitaja litageuka, na kuacha maovu yake nitaghairi, nisitende mabaya yale niliyoazimia kuwatenda.
But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.
9
Na wakati wo wote nitakapotoa habari za taifa, na habari za ufalme, kuujenga na kuupanda,
And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom,
10
ikiwa watatenda maovu mbele za macho yangu, wasiitii sauti yangu, basi nitaghairi, nisitende mema yale niliyoazimia kuwatendea.
and if it does evil in My sight and does not listen to My voice, then I will relent of the good I had intended for it.
11
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, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’
12
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 will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
13
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 this is what the LORD says: “Inquire among the nations: Who has ever heard things like these? Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.
14
Je! Theluji ya Lebanoni itakoma katika jabali la kondeni? Au je! Maji ya baridi yashukayo toka mbali yatakauka?
Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave its rocky slopes? Or do its cool waters flowing from a distance ever run dry?
15
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;
Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths instead of on the highway.
16
ili kufanya nchi yao kuwa kitu cha kushangaza, na cha kuzomewa daima; kila mtu apitaye karibu nayo atashangaa, na kutikisa kichwa chake.
They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads.
17
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 before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.”
18
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 some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
19
Niangalie, Ee Bwana, ukasikilize sauti ya wanaoshindana nami.
Attend to me, O LORD. Hear what my accusers are saying!
20
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.
Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
21
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, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Let their wives become childless and widowed; let their husbands be slain by disease, their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
22
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 suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.
23
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.
But You, O LORD, know all their deadly plots against me. Do not wipe out their guilt or blot out their sin from Your sight. Let them be overthrown before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger.