1
Kama ukitaka kurudi, Ee Israeli, asema Bwana, utanirudia mimi; na kama ukitaka kuyaondoa machukizo yako, yasiwe mbele ya macho yangu, ndipo hutaondolewa;
“If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver,
2
nawe utaapa hivi, Kama Bwana aishivyo, katika kweli, na katika hukumu, na katika haki ndipo mataifa watajibariki katika yeye, nao watajitukuza katika yeye.
and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
3
Maana Bwana awaambia hivi watu wa Yuda na Yerusalemu Ulimeni udongo katika konde zenu, wala msipande mbegu kati ya miiba.
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
4
Jitahirini kwa Bwana, mkaziondoe govi za mioyo yenu, enyi watu wa Yuda na wenyeji wa Yerusalemu; ghadhabu yangu isije ikatoka kama moto, ikawaka hata mtu asiweze kuizima, kwa sababu ya uovu wa matendo yenu.
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
5
Tangazeni katika Yuda, hubirini katika Yerusalemu, na kusema, Pigeni baragumu katika nchi, pigeni kelele sana, na kusema, Jikusanyeni pamoja, tukaingie katika miji yenye boma.
Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’
6
Twekeni bendera kuelekea Sayuni; kimbieni mpate kuwa salama, msikawie; kwa maana nitaleta mabaya toka kaskazini, na maangamivu makuu.
Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction.
7
Simba ametoka katika kichaka chake, ndiye aangamizaye mataifa; ameanza kushika njia, ametoka katika mahali pake; ili aifanye nchi yako kuwa ukiwa, miji yako ifanywe maganjo, asibaki mwenyeji ndani yake.
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
8
Kwa sababu hiyo jifungeni nguo za magunia; ombolezeni na kulia kwa uchungu; kwa maana hasira kali ya Bwana haikugeuka na kutuacha.
So put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.”
9
Na katika siku hiyo itakuwa, asema Bwana, moyo wa mfalme utapotea, na moyo wa wakuu wake; na makuhani watastaajabu, na manabii watashangaa.
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “the king and officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be astounded.”
10
Nami nikasema, Aa, Bwana MUNGU! Hakika umewadanganya sana watu hawa na Yerusalemu, ukisema, Mtakuwa na amani lakini upanga umeingia katika nafsi za watu.
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”
11
Wakati ule watu hawa na Yerusalemu wataambiwa neno hili, Upepo wa moto utokao katika vilele vya nyikani visivyo na miti, ukimwelekea binti ya watu wangu, hauwi upepo wa kupepeta, wala upepo wa kutakasa;
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift;
12
ni upepo wa nguvu kuliko hizo utakaokuja kwa ajili yangu; sasa mimi nitatoa hukumu juu yao.
a wind too strong for that comes from Me. Now I also pronounce judgments against them.”
13
Tazama atapanda juu kama mawingu, na magari yake ya vita yatakuwa kama kisulisuli; farasi zake ni wepesi kuliko tai. Ole wetu, kwa sababu tumeharibika.
Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!
14
Ee Yerusalemu, jioshe moyo wako usiwe na uovu, upate kuokoka. Mawazo yako mabaya yatakaa ndani yako hata lini?
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?
15
Maana sauti yatangaza habari toka Dani, yahubiri uovu toka vilima vya Efraimu;
For a voice resounds from Dan, proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
16
Wapasheni mataifa habari; angalieni, hubirini juu ya Yerusalemu, ya kwamba walinzi wanatoka katika nchi ya mbali, wanatoa sauti yao juu ya miji ya Yuda.
Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
17
Kama watu walindao shamba, wameuzunguka wauhusuru; kwa sababu ameniasi mimi, asema Bwana.
They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.
18
Njia yako na matendo yako yamekupatia haya; huu ndio uovu wako; kwa maana ni uchungu, hakika unafikilia hata moyo wako.
“Your ways and deeds have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!”
19
Mtima wangu, mtima wangu! Naumwa katika moyo wangu wa ndani; moyo wangu umefadhaika ndani yangu; siwezi kunyamaza; kwa sababu umesikia, Ee nafsi yangu, sauti ya tarumbeta, mshindo wa vita.
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.
20
Uangamivu baada ya uangamivu umetangazwa; kwa maana nchi yote imeharibika; hema zangu zimetekwa nyara ghafula, na mapazia yangu katika dakika moja.
Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment.
21
Niione bendera hata lini, na kuisikia sauti ya tarumbeta?
How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?
22
Kwa maana watu wangu ni wapumbavu, hawanijui; ni watoto waliopungukiwa na akili, wala hawana ufahamu; ni wenye akili katika kutenda mabaya, bali katika kutenda mema hawana maarifa.
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
23
Naliiangalia nchi, na tazama, ilikuwa ukiwa, haina watu; naliziangalia mbingu, nazo zilikuwa hazina nuru.
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.
24
Naliiangalia milima, na tazama, ilitetemeka, na milima yote ilisogea huko na huko.
I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.
25
Nikaangalia, na tazama, hapakuwa na mtu hata mmoja, na ndege wote wa angani wamekwenda zao.
I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled.
26
Nikaangalia, na tazama, shamba lililozaa sana limekuwa ukiwa, na miji yake yote ilikuwa imebomoka mbele za Bwana, na mbele za hasira yake kali.
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
27
Maana Bwana asema hivi, Nchi yote itakuwa ukiwa; lakini sitaikomesha kabisa.
For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction.
28
Kwa ajili ya hayo nchi itaomboleza, na mbingu zitakuwa nyeusi; kwa sababu mimi nimeyanena haya, na kuyakusudia, wala sikujuta wala mimi sitarudi nyuma niyaache.
Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”
29
Mji mzima unakimbia, kwa sababu ya mshindo wa wapanda farasi na wenye pinde wanaingia vichakani, wanapanda juu ya majabali; kila mji umeachwa, hapana hata mtu mmoja akaaye ndani yake.
Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.
30
Na wewe, utakapotekwa, utafanyaje? Ujapojivika mavazi mekundu, ujapojipamba mapambo ya dhahabu, ujapojitia wanja machoni, unajifanya kuwa mzuri bure tu; wapenzi wako wanakudharau; wanakutafuta roho yako.
And you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.
31
Kwa maana nimesikia sauti, kama sauti ya mwanamke wakati wa utungu wake, na sauti yake aumwaye, kama mwanamke azaaye mtoto wake wa kwanza, sauti ya binti Sayuni, atwetaye kupata pumzi, na kunyosha mikono yake, akisema, Ole wangu, sasa! Kwa maana roho yangu inazimia mbele ya wauaji.
For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child—the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!”